EXCLUSIVE | From Collapse to Comeback: Rudrankksh Patil’s Fight for Gold After Paris Heartbreak

Neeru Bhatia
29 Jun 2025
12:45

April 6, 2025 — a date that Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil will never forget. On this day, the 21-year-old from Thane, Maharashtra, stood atop the podium at the ISSF World Cup in Buenos Aires, clutching gold in the men’s 10m air rifle. For the former world champion, it was not just a medal — it was redemption.

MAKING A MARK: Rudrankksh Patil
MAKING A MARK: Rudrankksh Patil

Patil, who had won the world title in 2022, returned to form with a score of 252.9 in the final, narrowly edging out Hungary’s Olympic veteran Istvan Peni (251.7). He followed it up with a silver in the 10m air rifle mixed event at the same event, and then another silver at the ISSF World Cup in Lima, Peru, alongside Arya Borse.

But behind the medals lies a deeper, darker story — one of heartbreak, illness, and sheer willpower.

Patil in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) said
The feeling was amazing. Once you are out of the team, getting back is very tough. But I believed in my potential, my hard work. Somewhere, I had to start again.

Despite his past achievements, Patil was not selected for the Paris Olympics. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) followed its strict Olympic selection policy — only the top two shooters in the trials would make the cut. Former results, including a world title, counted for nothing.

The snub hit hard. “After the Olympics miss, I suffered a lot of stress,” he admitted. “I had hair loss, shakiness, breathing difficulties, even cirrhosis. I couldn’t sleep. Everything was falling apart.”

“But as I kept playing, I remembered why I loved the sport. That love brought me back. It wasn’t easy. I faced a lot of breathing issues during tournaments. But those competitions in September, October, and November 2024 got me back on track.”

Even as he clawed his way back, setbacks continued. In April 2025, Patil was forced to withdraw from the final of the ISSF World Cup in Lima after his 11th shot was deleted, leaving him in eighth place.

Patil confessed
Yes, it still haunts me. During our trials today [June 25], I was thinking about it. It affected my performance. But these things happen — and we move past them.

Currently, after the latest selection trials, Patil is ranked number 1 in the country. The world champion in air rifle has now decided to take a strategic pause in his competition schedule. 

After consulting his coach Neha Chavan at Gun For Glory, Patil has opted to skip the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Germany to focus on training and prepare better for the World Championship and the Asian Championship later in the season. 

The 16th Asian Championship (rifle/pistol/shotgun) will be held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, from August 16th to 30th while ISSF world championship will be held in two locations — Cairo, Egypt and Malala’s Greece.

Patil, now ranked 12th in the ISSF world rankings, remains grounded yet ambitious. He acknowledges the need to improve qualification scores and finish strong in finals. But when asked what he's doing to achieve that, his reply is refreshingly honest:

Patil said laughing
I’m trying not to do things on my own. Everything is planned by my support staff — people who know exactly what I need. I just follow what I’m supposed to do. That’s it.

A world champion, humbled by experience, strengthened by setbacks, and guided by resilience — Rudrankksh Patil’s return is more than just a sporting comeback. It’s a reminder that sometimes, greatness lies not in never falling, but in rising again after the fall.

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