Born in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Rudransh Khandelwal was just 10 when a 2015 wedding celebration turned tragic. A confetti machine exploded, and sharp shrapnel cut through his thigh, leading to the amputation of his left leg due to severe blood loss.

Six months later, Rudransh was fitted with a prosthetic leg. His mother, worried he might slip into depression, introduced him to sports.

After doing some research, she encouraged him to try shooting. But what began as a distraction soon became his passion.

The early days were tough. Rudransh could barely stand for more than two or three hours on his prosthetic leg, but his coach Sumit Rathi helped him build his strength.

For seven years, Rudransh narrowly missed making the national squad, sometimes by fractions of a point. “I thought about quitting,” he admitted.

In 2022, everything changed. In a pivotal decision, he switched from 10m air pistol to the 50m pistol category on his coach’s advice. That same year, he got selected in the national squad and played his first World Cup.

Building on this momentum, Rudransh’s second World Cup appearance was even more remarkable. He won four gold medals, set three world records, and secured his spot for the 2024 Paralympics.

At the 2023 World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup in Croatia, he broke another world record in the P4 mixed 50m pistol SH1 category with a score of 231.1, earning the gold medal.

His success didn’t stop there. In 2023, he won two silver medals at the Para Asian Games in the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol SH1 categories. He also secured silver at the 2024 Para Shooting World Cup in New Delhi.

One important lesson came when Rudransh saw ace shooter Manu Bhaker’s pistol malfunction at the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, he always carries a spare pistol to competitions.

He even carries a toolkit everywhere. Why? That’s another lesson he learned when his prosthetic leg broke just 15 minutes before a competition. “I carry it to fix the leg immediately if it happens again,” he said.

Visibly, his disability has never held him back. Today, the 17-year-old is ranked World No 1 in the 50m pistol (SH1) category and has his sights set on winning gold in his maiden Paralympics campaign.

Heading to the Paris Games, Rudransh has no fears. “I have full confidence in my preparation. I know I’ll do my best and make India proud,” he expressed.