Twitter Hails Olympic Rathore’s New Role as Sports Minister

Rathore, who won a silver in ‘double trap’ in the 2004 Athens Olympics, has replaced Vijay Goel.

File photo of Rajyavardhan Rathore. 

(Photo: Reuters)

The country's sports fraternity on 3 September welcomed the appointment of Olympic silver medallist shooter Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore as the new Sports Minister, and wished him well for his new stint.

Rathore, who won a silver medal in the double trap event in the 2004 Athens Olympics, replaced Vijay Goel as the Sports Minister. He was earlier the Minister of State in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

Fellow shooter and India's lone individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, was delighted at Rathore being made the Minister for Sports.

Also Read: Olympic Medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore Takes Over as Sports Min

Another fellow shooter and London Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang also expressed happiness at Rathore's appointment. Narang wrote on Twitter:

Your (Rathore’s) elevation raises hope because you have been there, done that and know what an athlete is made of. Heartiest Congratulations (sic).

London Olympics bronze medallist boxer Mary Kom tweeted:

Rajiv Khel Ratna awardee, paralympian Devendra Jhajharia, thanked outgoing Minister Vijay Goel for his service:

Star gymnast Dipa Karmakar wrote:

Former Sports Minister Ajay Maken also congratulated Rathore and said he was the right man for the ministry.

Former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha described Rathore's appointment as “a good development for Indian sports.”

Olympian shooter Joydeep Karmakar said:

(With inputs from PTI)

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Also Read: Rajyavardhan Rathore: The Union Minister Who Won an Olympic Medal