Pregnant Shooter Meghana Sajjanar Secures Bronze at Asian Championships
In a remarkable display of determination and skill, Indian shooter Meghana Sajjanar won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships in New Delhi while competing in her eighth month of pregnancy. The 32-year-old from Bengaluru not only claimed an individual bronze in the 10m air rifle event but also contributed to a team gold, showcasing her resilience on the international stage.
A Special Experience Amidst Physical Challenges
"It's a special experience," said Meghana, reflecting on her achievement. Her words highlighted not just the medal win, but the unique journey of shooting while feeling her baby kick from within. This emotional and physical feat has drawn widespread admiration, including praise from double Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, who took to social media to express her respect and admiration for Meghana's strength and courage.
Meghana acknowledged that standing and shooting was not easy, crediting her success to a robust support system. "I was able to manage it with the help of my whole support system besides me, including my coaches and my teammates," she stated, appearing visibly exhausted but proud after the competition.
Overcoming Equipment and Balance Hurdles
The pregnancy introduced new challenges, particularly with equipment adjustments. Due to her changing body shape, Meghana had to modify her rifle jacket and trousers regularly. "It's not easy to adjust every day as we are more adapted to using one jacket for the longest time," she explained. With assistance from the jacket manufacturer Capapie, she alternated buttons with extra materials to maintain the required stiffness for shooting.
Beyond the jacket, lifting the heavy rifle and achieving body balance became more difficult. "The difficulty has increased since I got pregnant. The balance was tough to achieve because of the changing body weight, but eventually I worked on it," Meghana noted. Her teammates played a crucial role, helping with gear and equipment during training and competitions, ensuring she could focus on her performance.
World-Class Final and Medal Hunt
In a high-quality final featuring eight shooters, Meghana faced stiff competition, including compatriots Elavenil Valarivan and Arya Borse, as well as Korean multiple World Cup medallist Kwon Eunji. Elavenil won gold with a score of 252.0, but Meghana consistently remained in medal contention. Starting strong with a top position after the first round and a score of 104.1 after ten shots, she maintained her composure under pressure.
As elimination rounds intensified, Meghana shot six of her next ten shots above 10.5. When Borse faltered with a 9.8 in the fifth elimination relay, Meghana responded with 10.5 and 10.6, edging out the youngster by a 0.1 margin to secure the bronze medal. She finished third behind Elavenil and Japanese shooter Misaki Nobata, marking a significant achievement in her career.
Future Plans and Inspirational Impact
With an individual bronze and team gold in hand, Meghana is set to compete in one last event before a three-month break. She will feature in the 10m mixed air rifle team event with Rudrankksh Patil on Sunday. When asked about potential participation in the Asian Games scheduled for August, she expressed doubt, saying, "It is highly unlikely that I would return for that, but we'll assess the situation at the time and make a decision."
This medal adds to Meghana's recent successes, including a bronze at the ISSF World Cup in Ningbo, China, last September. Her journey proves that female athletes can excel under challenging circumstances, inspiring others with her perseverance. As PV Sindhu aptly put it, "Powerful women like you don't just inspire, you make all of us believe a little more. Keep flying and keep inspiring."
