<p>Bengaluru: In a shooting contingent led by the likes of Manu Bhaker and Esha Singh, it is easy for others to get overlooked. But Divya T S has quietly built a career of her own with her latest contribution being a gold medal in the women's 25m pistol team event at the ISSF World Championships in Doha.
Another reminder of her growing credentials as a sharpshooter.</p>.<p>Teaming up with Manu and Esha on Tuesday, Divya contributed 584 points to India's winning aggregate of 1761-68x, comfortably ahead of South Korea (1748-66x).
Individually, the 31-year-old Bengalurean finished 10th in the individual qualification with the same score, missing the eight-shooter final by just one point.</p>.<p>For Divya, however, the focus is less on the names around her and more on the progress she is making herself.</p>.<p>"I don't compete with anyone. I am bettering myself every day," Divya told DH. "That's what I'm proud about.
Even if it's a team medal today, what I'm proud of is that I am improving, and I see a way to the top. I was able to execute what I had been doing in training, and that gives me more confidence."</p>.Asian Games 2026 | Esha Singh takes silver in thrilling shoot-off.<p>That approach has helped her navigate one of the most competitive shooting environments in the country.
With Manu, Esha, Suruchi Singh, Rahi Sarnobat among other accomplished shooters in the fray, the margins at domestic trials are often fine, with qualification scores matching Olympic level. Divya believes the pressure of competing at home can sometimes be as intense as that at international events.</p>.<p>Born and brought up in the City, Divya's journey to the top began relatively late.
A former basketball player, she took to shooting around the Covid-19 period, initially as a recreational pursuit while preparing for the UPSC examinations. It was her basic coach, Manjunath Patagar, who encouraged her to enter the 2021 National Championships so Karnataka could field a team.
After training for barely a week, she reached the 25m pistol final.</p>.<p>She has since then been spending most of her time at the Karnataka State Rifle Association range on the Sports Authority of India campus.
Manjunath also encouraged her to take up the 25m event, while she began training under Ronak Pandit in July this year.</p>.<p>The following year after her Nationals debut brought a National Games medal and her first national championship title. By 2023, she had won a World Cup gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event with Sarabjot Singh and claimed two silver medals at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Despite the team successes, Shooting is an individual sport in nature and could feel very lonely, it's something that Divya enjoys.</p>.<p>"That's why I enjoy the sport, I get to spend time with myself and I enjoy my company. There are days when I have just gone to the range and not spoken to a single person, except perhaps to say good morning. I am fine with that.
It has helped me understand myself better," she said.</p>.<p>For someone who likes to give her 100 per cent in everything and anything she does, Divya has refused to let sport come at the cost of education.
A law graduate from Seshadripuram Law College, she continued her studies alongside shooting, with her family supporting her journey in an expensive sport.</p>.<p>While an ACL surgery in 2024 interrupted her progress, she has since been working towards regaining stability in the 10m event and also concentrating on the 25m pistol with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic firmly in her sights.</p>
