On Saturday, India’s women’s shooter Meghana Sajjanar created history by participating in the Asian Shooting Championship 2026 while eight months pregnant. Not just that, in that state, she managed to win a bronze medal in the 10m air rifle individual event.
Meanwhile, she also paired up with Rudrankksh Patil to win the 10m Air Pistol mixed team gold. Earlier in the qualification round, the Indian duo finished with the third-highest score of 629, while in the individual event, she finished with the fifth-best score of 628.6.
After Tuesday, India’s medal tally in the senior rifle and pistol events moved up to 18, including eight golds, six silvers and four bronzes. The Asian Shooting Championships will conclude on February 13. Shooters from across 20 different countries are competing at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, Olympians Arjun Babuta and Elavenil Valarivan took India to a World Record win in the finals. Despite facing pregnancy struggles, Meghana made history as a pregnant participant performing for Indians.
Meanwhile, the New Delhi Championship is not Meghana’s first international tournament while pregnant. Last year, Meghana won her first World Cup medal, a bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle event held in Ningbo. Back then, Meghana was five months pregnant.
Before Meghana, it was Serena Williams who won the Australian Open 2017 while eight weeks pregnant. Meghana’s performance at the Asian Championship this year has gained worldwide attention and struck an inspirational example like a tennis legend.
On Sunday, Meghana, during an interview with The Bridge, shared her experience of performing while eight months pregnant and what it felt like to break Indian stereotypes. She also revealed that her participation was only confirmed after she was given a nod by her doctors, coach Rakesh Manpat
and family.
Meghana said, “Internationally, we have seen women compete at the Olympics during pregnancy. But in India, there’s still a stereotype that women don’t participate in sports during pregnancy. They’re often expected to take an early break.
“For me, I kept asking myself why not? If not now, then when will I give my best? I just kept pushing myself every single day. The doctor said ‘You can keep shooting until your last day of the due date’. And with the right support from physios, my coach, and above all, my family, I felt empowered to keep going.”
