A lot has changed for better in shooting, says Tejaswini Sawant

A look at Tejaswini Sawant's career graph will show that there has been an eight-year gap between winning international medals. From 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi to 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

But, in the intervening period, the 38-year-old rifle shooter from Kolhapur was not entirely away from shooting. It was only for two months in 2013 that she was totally away from the sport "for emergency at home".

As training and everything about shooting had come to a complete standstill for those two months, she had to catch up with her contemporaries. Now as senior shooter who shot into prominence in 2004 with gold at the SAF Games, Islamabad, Sawant has to be on her toes as she is challenged by a host of youngsters, particularly the teenagers.

Sawant, who became the first Indian woman to become a world champion in 50m rifle prone in 2010 Munich, does not look at today's talented juniors as a threat but a healthy competition to stay abreast in the sport and bring laurels for the country.

"The current lot of juniors are giving seniors a run for their money, and vice-versa. We hope for the best from each individual and that will benefit the country," Sawant told DNA recently after winning the Best Sportswoman of the Year award at the Sports Journalists' Association of Mumbai annual function here.

Sawant was all praise for the improvement in facilities the current lot of shooters are getting as compared to what was prevalent when she started. "I feel a lot of things has changed for the better. There is good support from the government and parents. Things have changed in the shooting fraternity. Indians have also started coaching. Our coaches know the mentality and lifestyle of our shooters, which was not the case when foreigners coached us.

That supports the shooters. There are a lot of positive changes and that is reflecting in the results," said Sawant.

Shooting has become a career option now, Sawant said. "I took to the sport at 21. Now, people know about the sport, it has become a career option. The government is supporting. The new generation gets facilities at early age and the results are showing early."

The senior shooter had a word of caution for the youngsters who have taken the world by storm in the senior tournaments like the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games this year.

"The good thing about the new generation is that they are getting the facilities and there is support from all corners. As a result, in short duration of preparation, they are producing the results. As a senior, I would say that when they achieve so much at a young age, there are a lot of expectations. As a result, they take some things lightly. But they should be a little serious. But, they cannot be blamed as it their age. It is here that the coaches and parents should guide them and give attention."

Asked if she thought Manu Bhaker was a medal prospect at the 2020 Olympic Games, Sawant, who narrowly missed the quota place for the 2012 London Games, said: "I feel that nothing can be said about any shooter as a medal prospect. Every individual is different, things are different. One cannot say about Manu or Mehuli (Ghosh). Don't know what changes they will undergo in their lives, how they deal with life situations."

Sawant won a silver in 50m rifle prone singles and bronze in 50m rifle prone pairs at the 2010 CWG and improved upon the colour of her medal to gold in the 50m rifle 3 position with a Games Record in the finals.
During the period between her international medals, Sawant was doing her bit at the national level, training regularly and also got married in 2016.

Marriage has not slowed her down in shooting. One of the conditions that Sawant agreed for marriage was that her shooting will not get affected.

"Before marriage, there was a huge family support so I could pursue shooting. One condition for my marriage was that my shooting would remain a priority. My husband (builder in Pune, Sameer Darekar) is fully supportive of the fact that I will continue to represent the country," said Sawant.

Back with a bang winning international medals early this year, Sawant was not looking at quitting the sport. "Having done so much after 18 years in shooting journey, I still feel the need to learn and want to achieve more. Till the time I am learning and achieving, I will continue to shoot," she said.