Two generations

In a rare accomplishment, a father and son won a gold medal each, on the same day at the same championship! At the age of 46, Darius Chenai of Hyderabad won his maiden shooting national title in the senior trap event, while 17-year-old Kynan won gold in the junior category at the 52nd National Shooting Championships in Jaipur on December 16, 2008.

Residents of Hyderabad, the Chenais had been practicing hard in Patiala with their Italian coach Marcello Dradi. Pitted against Darius in the senior category were champion shooters like Mansher Singh and Anwar Sultan. "This win is really very special. I was competing against some great players, competition was very, very close,” Darius is quoted in the Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, December 17, 2008.

Father-son duo Darius and Kynan Chenai

"Kynan was just a point behind to enter the top six in the seniors,” Darius rues. The lad however successfully defended his junior crown won in the same event last year. "More than mine, I am really very happy about my father’s achievement… it was great to see my mentor (Mansher Singh) and my father shooting together. The best part was to see my father win,” the Deccan Chronicle quotes Kynan.