From an Olympian to a watershed: Suma Shirur hits bullseye all the way

Suma Shirur is more than just an Olympian; she is a beacon of inspiration for women across India.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

As a mother and a mentor, Suma embodies the balance between personal and professional life, using her platform to advocate for the empowerment of women through sports. Her journey from a small town in Karnataka to representing India at the Athens Olympics of 2004 as a sport shooter is a testament to her resilience, determination, and unwavering belief in the power of sports to transform lives. The Statesman got an exclusive chance to talk to Suma about her life, philosophies, and future plans.

How was that feeling of scoring a perfect 400 in the qualification round, setting a joint world record, and winning the gold medal with a total score of 502.3 in the final in Kuala Lumpur?

So, actually, the world record moment was very defining for me. It was only after that that I got the kind of recognition. I was known as a good shooter, but only after this record was I considered among the champions. It was the last chance to qualify for the Olympics. I won the qualifying and the gold, which gave me a lot of pride. After my record, sponsorships came my way, and helped me build my career after that moment.