ROHTAK, Sept. 22 -- Dahola village in Jind district erupted in celebration on Monday as its 20-year-old boy Himanshu Dhillon, on his birthday, clinched two silver medals in the men's 10m air rifle event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, turning years of struggle, sacrifices and financial uncertainty by his farmer family into a moment of collective pride.

As Himanshu competed at the Asian Games, his family members and villagers watched his performance live on television, anxiously following every shot before breaking into celebrations after he secured the medals. Sweets were distributed in the village as relatives, neighbours and friends gathered to celebrate the achievement of the youngster who had once picked up shooting almost by chance...