M A I N   N E W S

Sawant shoots historic gold at world meet
Becomes first Indian woman to do so

New Delhi, August 8
Tejaswini Sawant scripted history on Sunday by becoming the first Indian woman shooter to clinch a gold medal at the World Championships with a world-record equalling score in the 50m Rifle Prone event in Munich, Germany. Sawant shot a score of 597 (100, 100, 100, 99, 99, 99), equalling the 1998 record set by Marina Bobkova of Russia.

The 29-year-old, who clinched gold medals in the Commonwealth Games Air Rifle event, was level with Poland's Ewa Joanna Nowakowska in the final score but managed to clinch the top honours with a better perfect score tally of 41. Kazakhstan’s Olga Dovgun settled for the bronze with a score of 596.

An elated Tejaswini said she only wanted to give her best in the event and was not event thinking about a medal let alone the world record. “The way we were training, I thought I would be getting my personal best. I was not thinking about a medal or a world record. Having got both, I can't even explain how I am feeling right now. It’s just amazing,” the shooter from Kolhapur told PTI from Munich.

“My coaches, including Kazakh coach Stanislav Lapidus, made some plans for me and I am glad that everything worked accordingly,” she added. Tejaswini said although pursuing shooting is no easy task in small towns like hers, she made it big due to her parents' support.

“There are difficulties but instead of complaining, I think it is better to use them as motivation and work harder. That's what my parents taught me while they supported my dreams,” she said. “The more problems you face in pursuit of your dreams, the more delightful your success becomes.” — PTI