Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who also holds the Youth Empowerment and Sports portfolios, on Saturday, 14 November felicitated shooter Divya T.S. for clinching a gold medal in the women's 25-metre pistol team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Shooting Championship held in Doha. The felicitation ceremony took place at Parameshwara's office in Sadashivanagar, Bengaluru.

What the Deputy CM Said

Addressing the occasion, Parameshwara described the gold medal as far from an ordinary achievement, praising Divya for her dedication, discipline, relentless hard work, and self-confidence. '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.

He added that Divya's performance had brought pride not only to the country but also to Karnataka, and expressed hope that her success would serve as an inspiration to young athletes in the state — particularly those drawn to shooting as a sport.

India's Gold-Winning Performance in Doha

Divya, a 31-year-old Bengaluru-based shooter, teamed up with Manu and Esha to secure the gold for India. She contributed 584 points to India's winning aggregate of 1,761-68x, comfortably ahead of South Korea, which finished with 1,748-66x. In the individual qualification round, she placed 10th with 584 points, missing the eight-shooter final by just a single point.

A Remarkable Journey: Basketball to World Champion

Divya's path to the world stage is one of the more unlikely stories in Indian sport. A former basketball player, she took up shooting only around the time of the Covid-19 pandemic — initially as a recreational pursuit while preparing for the UPSC examinations. Her basic coach, Manjunath Patagar, encouraged her to participate in the 2021 National Championships so that Karnataka could field a team. Having trained for barely a week at that point, she nonetheless reached the final of the 25m pistol event.

That debut proved to be a turning point. The following year, she won a medal at the National Games and claimed 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 secured two silver medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Eyes on Los Angeles 2028

Having now established herself firmly on the international shooting circuit, Divya is reportedly focusing her energies on the 25m pistol event with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as her primary target. Her trajectory — from a late starter with no formal shooting background to a world champion — offers a compelling template for aspiring athletes across the country.