NEW DELHI: Tilottama Sen has had a rollercoaster of emotions in the past three months. The 16-year-old shooter from Bengaluru, who had clinched the quota for the Paris Games, was poised to become the youngest Indian Olympian. However, she couldn't hold her quota in the trials in May.
In June, she had almost made up her mind to quit shooting. The hurt of not making it to the Indian squad was deep as she didn't even follow shooting events at Paris. A few months down the line, she is back to the sport she loves and will represent India at the ISSF World Cup Finals from Tuesday.
"I am glad to be back. I would admit that it wasn't easy to come back from the low phase I went through. I don't blame anyone as it all went according to the policy and I missed out by a small margin, but it was a very natural reaction for me to get emotional and feel bad," Tilottama told TOI.
Tilottama said she had shut herself out completely for a week. "It was devastating. I didn't even talk to my parents. I had also thought of quitting and didn't shoot for a month, but then I spoke to my family, friends and my psychologist, who helped me come back," she said.
Along with Tilottama, the 23-shooter Indian contingent will have many other shooters who missed the Paris bus but will be itching to prove themselves at this meet which will feature shooters from 37 countries.
India's contingent, the highest, in the field of 137 shooters, includes Tokyo Games participant Divyansh Singh Panwar (10m air rifle), Bhowneesh Mendiratta (trap), Varun Tomar (10m air pistol), Chain Singh and Akhil Sheoran (both 50m rifle 3P). While the top performers from four World Cups and Olympics get a ticket to the WC Finals, India, being host, has got wildcards in each event.
"We are following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) process in awarding the wildcards. As per the IOC the host country gets two wildcards in each event," ISSF president Luciano Rossi said on Sunday.
When asked if giving wildcards will dilute the quality of the tournament, Rossi said, "If it doesn't affect the quality at the Olympics, it won't do it here either," he said.
India to get Junior World Cup next year
Rossi on Sunday said that India has come up as a strong shooting nation, not just through their shooters, but also as hosts. "They are hosting the Finals this year and I am sure they will host a successful tournament. We have also decided to award India the Junior World Cup next year. It hasn't been announced officially yet, but I can announce it here," Rossi said.
