HANGZHOU: Karnataka shooter Divya TS is returning home from the Asian Games with two silver medals and plenty of memories. On Saturday, Divya helped India win another silver in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
Divya and Sarabjot Singh duo lost 12-14 to China in the gold medal match. On Friday, the team comprising Divya, Palak and Esha Singh came second in the 10m air pistol women's team event with 1,731 points, five points behind the hosts.
"It was a great experience at my first Asian games and I'm going back with lots of memories and lessons," Divya told TOI here.
Looking back, Divya said she was planning to take the UPSC exams after graduating in Law. "I used to shoot just for fun during my free time and then I gave it a serious try last year, and here I am," the 27-year-old said.
"I started training with Manjunath Patagar sir as a hobby shooter and I remember when he asked me in 2019, what my future plans were; I had told him I would give the UPSC exams a shot, and I hadn't touched my weapon during lockdown. It was exactly a week before the 2021 Nationals that I held the weapon again. And last year, I missed the World Championships by one rank and that's when I realised that had I put in a little more effort, I would have made it to the bigger events," Divya said.
"My basic coach Patagar motivated me to continue shooting. My family has backed me in whatever I've chosen to do," said Divya, who graduated in Law from Seshadripuram Law College in Bengaluru.
"I'm pretty happy that I'm doing something that's not related to practising law," she said with a chuckle.
Once she began to put her mind to training, there was no looking back as Divya became the 65th National champion in 10m air pistol last year. A National Games bronze medal followed and strengthened her belief that she could perform in tough conditions.
"I'm learning every day. I'm preparing well for the upcoming competitions and my goal is to give my best in every game. Consistency matters a lot in this sport and I'm getting back on track with my qualification mark. Paris Olympics qualification will definitely happen if I perform well in my qualification matches," Divya added.
"Even though I'm 27, I'm the most inexperienced shooter in the Indian team but I'm learning this sport better day by day," the talented shooter said.
