Tejaswini overwhelmed by congratulatory messages

New Delhi, Aug 9 (IANS) World champion shooter Tejaswini Sawant said she is overwhelmed by congratulatory messages from President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In a message, Manmohan Singh said Tejaswini’s outstanding performance has brought laurels to the nation and her achievement will inspire other youngsters to do their best.

In a statement, the President said that every Indian is proud of her achievement, as Tejaswini has become the first Indian woman shooter to achieve this distinction.

Tejaswini and rifle shooter Gagan Narang, who won the bronze in the World Championship, also met sports minister M.S. Gill, who congratulated both the shooters.

‘When the President and the Prime Minister of the country congratulates you, it always makes you feel special. I never expected that my gold medal will evoke such reaction. I had a meeting with the sports minister and we have assured him that we will do well in the Commonwealth Games,’ said Tejaswini.

Tejaswini thanked her family and dedicated the gold medal to her father, who passed away earlier this year while she was competing at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships here in February.

‘My family has always been the pillar of my strength. There were times when I thought of giving up the sport due to financial constraints. But my parents always backed me and if my father was alive today he would have been very proud,’ she said.

The 29-year-old from Kolhapur feels that Indian shooters will be a force to reckon with at the Oct 3-14 Games.

‘I am sure we will put up a great show at the Commonwealth Games, specially in the rifle events,’ she said.

Tejaswini Sunday became the first Indian woman shooter to win a gold at the World Championships with a world record equalling score in the 50m rifle prone event.

Tejaswini shot 597 (100, 100, 100, 99, 99, 99) and was tied with Polish shooter Ewa Joanna Nowakowska, equalling the 1998 record set by Marina Bobkova of Russia. She was declared winner with a better perfect score tally of 41. Olga Dovgun of Kazakhstan won the bronze with a score of 596.