Beyond the Bullseye
The precision is his. So is the glory. But behind Kynan Chenai’s rise as an international shooting champion is a story shaped by courage, sacrifice and the unwavering support of his family
For Kynan Chenai, the battle goes beyond the shooting range. India’s Asian Games gold medallist in mixed team trap, alongside Neeru Dhanda, draws strength from the courage to overcome setbacks and rise again.
His mother, Dinaz Noria, admires his resilience; his father, Darius Chenai, takes pride in the student who surpassed the master. His wife and fellow shooter, Rajeshwari Kumari, understands the demands of his sporting journey. Together, they reveal the man behind the marksman and the family behind his triumphs.
THE COURAGE TO KEEP GOING
For Dinaz Noria, Kynan’s journey into shooting was a natural extension of a family legacy. Both his grandfathers and his father, Darius, were shooters. Introduced to the sport as a child, Kynan gradually transformed a family pursuit into a lifelong commitment. “There wasn’t a moment in time where he decided that shooting was his thing. I think it started off because it’s a family sport. Both his grandfathers used to shoot. And then his father is also a shooter. Father introduced him to this sport as a child. It seemed like something that he would just do. But as a natural progression in life, it just sort of happened that he was good at it, and he took it up seriously and just kept getting better at it and invested his entire life into it. And now I think he lives it. That sport is in every molecule, every cell of his body.”
Kynan’s 30-year-old gun barrel, inherited from his father, embodies a family legacy. But for Dinaz, his true strength lies not in medals, but in his courage to rise after defeat. “The one quality that I think I would love for him to retain all through his life would be the courage that he has, the strength and the courage that he faces his life with, challenges that he faces. You know, in the sportsman’s life, it’s not always wins, they lose many, many more times than they win. The lows are crushing, and to be able to have the courage to get up the next day and go back onto the playing field is what I admire the most about him.”
Watching Kynan compete is an emotional ordeal for Dinaz. During a major final, unable to bear the tension, she retreated to her prayer room. “I did not have the courage to watch the final. I just sat in my prayer room and prayed. I don’t think my nerves can take that kind of tension and pressure. So when I saw that he had won, them climb on the podium and I watched them get their medals, my heart was just full of pride and joy.”
WHEN THE STUDENT BECAME THE MASTER
Introduced to shooting and coached by his father, former national Trap champion Darius Chenai, Kynan gradually developed his own techniques, overcame setbacks and eventually surpassed his mentor. “Kynan has surpassed all expectations. It did start with me shooting and him joining me, but at the moment, he can coach me,” says Darius. As Kynan turns to expert coaches, Darius has stepped back into the role of a proud father, offering unwavering support through every setback.
“I am always there for Kynan, but now he has reached a stage where he needs very professional people to train him. My experience as a shooter has been at a much lower level. At the moment, it is just about supporting him and propping him up when things are not going too well. Otherwise, he is his own man.”
A PARTNER WHO UNDERSTANDS
For Kynan and Rajeshwari Kumari, both accomplished shooters, marriage has deepened a friendship forged through years of shared sporting journeys. Their understanding of the highs, setbacks and solitude of competitive sport brings a rare dimension to their relationship. “It’s different sharing it with your husband. He’s been my best friend for years and we supported each other throughout, but now that he’s my husband, it’s been totally different. It’s like I lived it with him, each step,” says Rajeshwari.
Their years as teammates have taught them when to offer comfort, when to push each other and when to step back. “We’re best friends. We usually just complement each other. We know which one has to step back at which moment, and it somehow just happens automatically. You learn this as teammates too. Because we’ve been teammates, it’s ingrained in us. We are just happy we have each other to navigate through life together.”
RAJESHWARI KUMARI
I introduced Kynan to shooting, but he has taken the sport far beyond what I ever imagined. He has surpassed all expectations. These days, I find myself learning from him.”
DARIUS CHENAI
DINAZ NORIA
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