Shreyasi: ‘CWG 2018 is the milestone medal of my career’

Shreyasi, daughter of former NRAI President Digvijay Singh, won the women's double trap gold following a shoot-off with Emma Cox.

Cut to 2018, and Shreyasi Singh is basking in glory, as she has just won the gold medal in women’s double trap event of the 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games.

When Shooter Shreyasi Singh had entered the 2010 Commonwealth Games (CWG) she was in grief, following the sudden demise of her father. Her campaign was over in a jiffy, unable to cope with the feeling of utter helplessness, despair and disbelief.

Cut to 2018, and the 26-year-old is basking in glory, after winning the gold medal in the women’s double trap event at the 21st Commonwealth Games.

Shreyasi called it the milestone medal of her career, which was made more special by the fact that shooting will not be a part of the next Commonwealth Games.

READ: CWG Live, Day 7: Shooters add to India's medal tally

“I’ve got a milestone medal,” an excited Shreyasi said, after claiming India’s 12th gold medal of the ongoing Games.

Shreyasi, had lost her father, former National Rifles Association of India President Digvijay Singh, on the eve of the 2010 Games, which threw her campaign out of gear.

“This is the highest medal of my career, right up there. It is also very special because shooting is not going to be a part of the Commonwealth Games, in 2022,” she said.

Shooting is being dropped from the roster for the 2022 Birmingham CWG, due to logistical issues, as the organisers have expressed inability to prepare a venue for the event.

Shreyasi's medal is the fourth shooting gold for India, following the triumphs of pistol shooters Jitu Rai, Heena Sidhu and Manu Bhaker. “It would be the one to cherish for a very long time,” she stated.

Shreyasi had won a silver medal at the 2014 Games and also has an Asian Games bronze to her credit. At the ongoing Games, she still has the trap event to compete in.

The top podium finish, on Wednesday, came after a shoot-off with Emma Cox, as both the shooters ended with scores of 96, following the finals.

Asked if she felt the jitters in the shoot-off, Shreyasi said, “I was definitely nervous, but at the same time confident. Does that make sense?”

“Actually, I was prepared for a fight, I was not going to give up, no matter what. I would have fought till whatever time it was necessary, to get this medal. If you ask me what I feel right now, it is pure happiness,” she said.

Shreyasi, who is inspired by 2004 Athens Olympics silver-medallist and the union sports minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, said that despite the close finish she was satisfied with her performance.

“My performance, today, was definitely very good. I am quite satisfied with how things went. It’s been a great day at work,” she said. At the 2014 CWG, she arrived in Glasgow with a nagging back problem, but still managed to claim a silver.

However, she had a smooth build-up to 2018 Gold Coast, having secured a silver medal in the Commonwealth Championships in November 2017. “I am just happy,” said the markswoman, who is also adept at dishing out Mughlai cuisine as shooting down targets.