Want to prove I can deal with pressure: Tejaswini Sawant

A lot has changed for me over the last one month, after winning the World Championship. The pressure mounts, of course, but I want to prove that I can deal with it well.

I am not used to so much of media attention and the public glare, so I am still adjusting to it. You do enjoy these things but at the same time you have to ensure you don’t get bogged down by success.

I think this is just the beginning. A lot more is yet to come.

The Commonwealth Games have been a good hunting ground for us shooters and hopefully, we will carry on with the trend. The World Championship gold is a great motivating factor for me and I would be disappointed to settle for anything less than gold at the CWG. I won two gold medals at the Melbourne Games.

But my focus is to improve. I cannot afford to rest on my laurels. There is much more left for me to achieve. And more importantly, I will be performing in front of the home crowd at the CWG.

I think my family and a few of my friends will be coming down to watch me. That can make you nervous sometimes but it is fun nevertheless. It is special.

The CWG is a solid opportunity for us to further assert our supremacy in shooting among the Commonwealth nations. The competition may not look tough on paper, but trust me, when it comes down to that final shot, anything can happen.

So, the only thing for us is to focus. In the end, we have to win medals. And considering that we are the hosts, the pressure is bound to be there to do well. And performing well here will boost our morale ahead of the Asian Games next season.

Last CWG, we won around 27 medals and I expect the tally to go up this time. I think most of the shooters are looking in good shape and I am sure they will do well.

I don’t think I will get the time to go and watch other sports at the Games, but I do hope Indians excel. Let’s hope the Games are remembered for our performance and not the negativity by which they have been marred.
 —As told to Mihir Vasavda