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Jitu Rai (Shooter) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth25 August 1987

Age37 Years

BirthplaceSankhuwasabha District, Nepal

ProfessionShooter, Army Service

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilyFourth of five siblings; father served in Indian Army (died 2006), mother a farmer

Jitu Rai (Shooter) Biography

Jitu Rai is an Indian sport shooter and Indian Army Naib-Subedar from Sankhuwasabha District, Nepal. Rising to international prominence in 2014 with World‑

Early life and background

Jitu Rai was born on 25 August 1987 in Sankhuwasabha District, Nepal. He grew up in a farming family as one of five siblings and is the fourth child. His father, who served in the Indian Army, died in 2006. Rai later moved into India for education and training, attending Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

He worked on his family's farm in his village before joining the Indian Army in 2006. Rai holds Nepalese ethnicity and practices Hinduism. His listed height is approximately 5 feet 4 inches (162 cm), with black hair and black eyes.

Career

Rai turned professional in shooting in 2014 and is associated with the Indian shooting team. He serves in the Indian Army with the rank of Naib-Subedar in the 11 Gorkha Rifles regiment. His army service began in 2006 and his military promotions have followed his successes in the sport.

The year 2014 marked a turning point in Rai’s career. He won three medals at the ISSF World Cup that year and rose to the top of the world rankings in the 10 metre air pistol discipline. That same period brought additional major victories: a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in which he posted a 194.1 points final, recorded as a world-level mark at the time, and a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games in the 50 metre pistol event.

Rai continued collecting top results in subsequent years. On 24 October 2017 he teamed with Heena Sidhu to win the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team gold at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. On 9 April 2018 he captured gold in the men’s 10m air pistol and set a new Commonwealth Games record in that event.

Coach and training

Rai has trained under coach Garvaraj Rai in Lucknow. His development included periods at army training centers; a temporary dip in performance around 2010 led to his return to unit duties from AMU, Mhow (Indore), but he later resumed training after improving results.

Honours and recognition

In recognition of his contributions to Indian shooting, Jitu Rai was awarded the Padma Shri in 2020.

Public profile

Rai is married; his wife’s name is not publicly detailed in the available profile. Nationality is recorded as Indian. He is known for his competitive focus in pistol events—particularly the 10m air pistol and 50m pistol—and for representing India on the world stage while serving in the Army.

Latest updates

In July 2024 Rai announced his retirement from the Indian Army and signaled a shift toward coaching. In a social media statement he said he plans to open a shooting academy to train young athletes and indicated openness to being part of the national coaching staff.

Personal notes

Rai’s background includes agricultural work before his military enlistment, and his rise in shooting has been tied closely to his army career. He has experienced both setbacks and high points—a dip in form around 2010 followed by a strong international breakthrough in 2014—and has gone on to set records and win medals at major multi-sport events.
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Recent Work

10m Air Pistol Mixed Team (with Heena Sidhu)

Gold medal at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range

2017
Men's 10m Air Pistol

Gold medal and new Commonwealth Games record

2018
ISSF World Cup medals and major 2014 wins

Three ISSF World Cup medals, Commonwealth Games gold (world‑record final 194.1) and Asian Games gold (50m pistol)

2014
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Career Highlights

  1. Three medals at the 2014 ISSF World Cup; rose to world No. 1 in 10m air pistol
  2. Gold medal and 194.1‑point final at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
  3. Gold medal in 50m pistol at the 2014 Asian Games
  4. Gold in 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team with Heena Sidhu (2017)
  5. Gold and a Commonwealth Games record in men's 10m air pistol (2018)
  6. Awarded the Padma Shri in 2020
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Jitu Rai (Shooter) born?

25 August 1987

What is Jitu Rai (Shooter) known for?

Shooter, Army Service

What is Jitu Rai (Shooter)’s marital status?

Married