Jaipur, Nov 27 (NationPress) When Sakshi Padekar first contemplated a career in shooting, even the costs of renting rifles and buying basic ammunition were a challenge. To support her aspirations, her parents had to mortgage her mother’s jewelry.

The 22-year-old, whose father works as a security guard in a manufacturing unit in Pune, Maharashtra, has made remarkable strides from her humble beginnings. She clinched the gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle individual event with an outstanding performance at the Khelo India University Games in Rajasthan 2025. She also guided the Lovely Professional University team to success.

This achievement is particularly impressive as it marks Sakshi’s first major victory in the 10m Air Rifle category, having previously focused on the 50m Rifle events during her time with the National Cadet Corps (NCC).

"I knew I had to stay composed to achieve the perfect shot," she shared with SAI Media, her voice filled with emotion after winning the gold. "I concentrated on my goal and practiced diligently for this moment, and it truly paid off today."

Sakshi hails from Alephata village, located about two and a half hours from Pune. Her parents relocated to Pune in search of better opportunities for their children. Initially, Sakshi explored various sports, including judo and taekwondo, before discovering her passion for shooting during an NCC camp shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown.

However, pursuing a career in sports was challenging due to the high costs of training equipment outside the NCC camp.

"I was motivated by my passion and the sacrifices of my parents. They always advised me to persist, regardless of the circumstances. We used to rent rifles costing approximately Rs 40,000 monthly, along with ammunition. It was almost unmanageable financially, but my parents somehow managed this expense for about eight months until I caught the attention of the Gagan Narang Sports Foundation, which provided me with crucial support," said Sakshi Padekar.

The LEAP scholarship from the Foundation changed the course of her career. In 2024, she won gold medals in the 50m Rifle 3-Position event at the Maharashtra State Shooting Championships in both junior and senior categories and also secured an individual silver in the junior category at the Nationals. She later represented India at the 2024 Junior World Championships in Peru.

A wrist injury early in the year hampered her training, but Sakshi was determined to excel in Jaipur, especially after narrowly securing a team bronze in Guwahati last year.

“The experience from the Khelo India University Games last year boosted my confidence in performing at a high level, which helped me succeed in subsequent tournaments. I believe winning this gold medal is just the beginning, and I aim to maintain my performance in both 10m Air Rifle and 50m events going forward,” Sakshi expressed.