Tilottama Sen: Gunning for the prize

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a sporting profession in capturing for Bengaluru woman Tilottama Sen who took up the game to interrupt the monotony of on-line courses and being cooped up indoors.

A volleyball and throwball participant, Tilottama was additionally a karateka, and the shortcoming to interact in these actions dampened her spirits, so her father, Sujit Sen, advised she take up capturing.

He took her to a close-by vary, the place her new interest quickly developed right into a ardour. As she progressed, Tilottama enrolled on the Elite Capturing Academy the place she was educated by skilled coaches. Quickly, she was taking part in State and nationwide occasions.

By 2023, she was representing India in worldwide occasions such because the World Cup, Asian Championship and World Youth Championship.

Between 2023 and 2025 she garnered laurels and a complete of 39 medals, which included 22 gold, eight silver and 9 bronzes. “Capturing is extra of a psychological sport,” says Tilottama.

Tilottama Sen
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“It requires focus, focus and dedication aside from every day follow. I practise seven hours a day, regardless of reaching the worldwide degree.”

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s silver on the 2004 Olympics and Abhinav Bindra’s gold within the 2008 Olympics have been two wins which made capturing vastly fashionable in India.

Although Tilottama’s success in particular person and workforce occasions got here within the 10-metre air rifle occasion, in 2025, she had switched to capturing the 50-metres and gained gold on the current nationwide championships. Her win evoked reward from all quarters, particularly from her idol, Abhinav Bindra. “He was a supply of inspiration for me; he gave me quite a lot of ideas.”

Proper now, Tilottama is attending the Nationwide choice trials for the 10m air rifle occasion in Delhi the place she has secured the highest spot. She is subsequent scheduled to take part within the Asian Video games which will likely be held in Japan in September. “I hope to win just a few medals on the Video games and my subsequent goal is the Olympics. It will likely be an enormous achievement if I get into the medal bracket on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”