Bengaluru, Nov 14 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Youth Empowerment and Sports portfolios, on Saturday felicitated shooter Divya T.S. for winning a gold medal in the 25-metre pistol team event at the recent International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Shooting Championship in Doha.
Parameshwara felicitated Divya at his office in Sadashivanagar here and congratulated her on bringing laurels to the country through her achievement at the prestigious international sporting event.
In his remarks on the occasion, Parameshwara said winning a gold medal at an international-level competition was no ordinary achievement and appreciated Divya for her dedication, discipline, continuous hard work and self-confidence.
He said Divya’s impressive performance at the world championship and her contribution to India’s gold medal victory had brought pride not only to the country but also to Karnataka.
He expressed hope that her achievement would serve as an inspiration to young sportspersons in the state, particularly those interested in shooting.
“Divya has demonstrated that with talent, continuous practice, hard work, and determination, it is possible to achieve success even at the international level,” he said.
Parameshwara also wished her success in her future sporting endeavours and expressed confidence that she would continue to deliver outstanding performances and win more medals at national and international competitions.
He said Divya’s sporting journey should continue to inspire aspiring athletes and bring further recognition to Karnataka and the country.
Divya T.S., a 31-year-old Bengaluru-based shooter and former basketball player, has scripted an impressive sporting journey, winning a gold medal in the women’s 25m pistol team event at the ISSF World Shooting Championships in Doha. Teaming up with Manu and Esha, Divya contributed 584 points to India’s winning aggregate of 1,761-68x, comfortably ahead of South Korea, which finished with 1,748-66x. She also finished 10th in the individual qualification with 584 points, missing the eight-shooter final by just one point.
Interestingly, Divya took up shooting relatively late in her sporting career, around the Covid-19 pandemic, initially as a recreational activity while preparing for the UPSC examinations. A former basketball player, she was encouraged by her basic coach, Manjunath Patagar, to participate in the 2021 National Championships so that Karnataka could field a team. Despite having trained for barely a week, she managed to reach the final of the 25m pistol event.
Her debut at the Nationals proved to be a turning point. The following year, she won a medal at the National Games and secured her first national championship title. In 2023, she went on to win World Cup gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event alongside Sarabjot Singh and claimed two silver medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Having made a mark on the international shooting circuit, Divya is now focusing on the 25m pistol event with an eye on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Her journey from basketball to becoming a world champion is an inspiring example of determination, perseverance and the ability to excel even when starting late.
–IANS
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