31-year-old
TK Sharanya Devi has made the country proud by winning the Al Kandari
shooting contest in
Kuwait. This is the first time that an Indian has participated and won the contest. She secured 91 points in the 50 meter
sniper 22 category. CT caught up with Sharanya on her win and how she followed her childhood passion after marriage.
Sharanya Devi, who moved to Kuwait after her marriage to Mahesh Selvarajan never ever thought she would pursue shooting after her marriage. “My uncle used to shoot when I was young and I was fascinated by the guns. I enrolled myself in the
Coimbatore Rifle Club and started learning shooting. I continuously practised for two years during my college. I wanted to compete at the district and state level, but I didn’t know how to get into the tournaments. In the meantime, I got married and moved to Kuwait ten years ago. After I had my daughter, I resigned my job and stayed back at home to look after her. One of my friends in Kuwait told me that there is a shooting range in Kuwait, where they allow expatriates to practise. My husband knew I used to shoot, but had never watched me shoot, so asked me to give it a try. That’s how it all began.”
She adds, “To my surprise, I could maintain the shooting consistency even after such a long hiatus. The dean of the shooting range Omar Al Ansari told me that I was shooting really well and wanted me to pursue it seriously. So, I started training regularly in the range. I joined the shooting range in August, 2017. I also won the shooter of the week contest three consecutive weeks, which gave me a lot of confidence. Then, they (Dean and the coach) started reducing my target size gradually and eventually they penned a small circle and asked me to shoot. The competition arrived and they wanted me to compete. Though it is a national level competition, shooters from Oman, Lebanon and Muscat also competed in it. I was the first Indian to take part in it.”
Sharanya says she never expected to win the contest. “The overall tournament had more than 300 shooters and my category had nearly 100 competitors. I secured 91 points, but my best is 97.Since I had to shoot 10 bullets in a matter of 4 minutes, that’s what I could achieve. I was the tournament topper as men’s category secured only 90 points. Since the second place and I had secured 91 points, they gave the first position to me as I got four perfect tens. My friends told me no one had ever achieved it and I was incredibly happy. I always had this passion for shooting and this opportunity came my way and I grabbed it with both hands. The Indian diaspora here was extremely delighted. I was felicitated by the Member of Parliament Faisal Al Kandari. He said it was a great feeling for the government to award an Indian woman for the first time.”
Sharanya credits the Coimbatore Rifle Club for the initiation into shooting. “It was the practice I had in the Coimbatore Rifle Club that gave me the confidence to handle a gun again. I used to shoot air guns there, but my Kuwaiti dean wanted me to try a sniper and it worked for me. I still remember my coach Murali Sir who taught me the basics so well that it has helped me after 12 years. My husband and daughter have been a great support throughout along with my sister and parents,” she says.
Sharanya wants to join the Coimbatore Rifle Club again. “I have been thinking about this for a while. I want to compete in all the tournaments in India. I am still not sure about the process of representing India for Indians living in other countries. I am looking forward to take part in many shooting competitions in the future. I just want to tell people to never let go their passion. It will always be there inside us, we need to give ourselves a chance."
