I Chose My Pistol Over Exams
New Delhi, June 9 - Shilpi Bisht, nee Singh, earned her BCom (pass) degree from the University of Delhi's Sri Venkateswara College. At the age of 18, she won the Government of India's Arjuna Award for 1997 (conferred in 1998), which recognises outstanding performance in sports and games, becoming the only recipient of this honour in ladies pistol shooting. The youngest person to bring home a Commonwealth medal in pistol shooting, she is also the only pistol shooter to win individual medals in three Commonwealth shooting championships in a row. Bisht has won 109 medals in national and international events so far.
Originally from Jharkhand, this lady, whose father is deputy inspector general in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and husband a major in the Army, is currently based in Delhi. She recounts her college days:
I got into Venkateswara College through the sports category. In some other colleges people could get in with a 50-something score but this wasn't the case in Venky. The college gave 10 per cent weightage - or exemption - to sports category applicants.
Once admitted, I hardly attended any classes as I was travelling for camps and competitions almost every 15 days. When I did go for classes, the lecturers said, ‘So, you are the one. We wanted to see you.'
I don't remember how many classes I went for after all - maybe two to four per cent.
Despite this, the sports director and the principal were very cooperative. I remember only good things about college. The authorities had no problem with my admit card. They used to go out of their way to help. I never had to stand in a queue.
Those were v
ery hectic days. It was very difficult for me to give time there. I made some friend in college but it was just about ‘hi-hello' because I didn't have much time to spend on campus.
How did I get through my college examination? I studied during the last 20-30 days.
Once a major event's schedule - I think it was the World Cup or the Commonwealth Games - coincided with my exams. I chose my pistol over the papers. For, I could take my exam next year. (Because of this, I completed my BCom in four years instead of three.) I was clear that shooting was my profession. Taking a degree was a formality. At the same time, this credential has its value. Studies are as important as anything else in life. The minimum qualification for so many jobs is graduation.
To sports category applicants, I would like to say that they shouldn't just make sports a medium to get into college but make best use of this opportunity. Don't quit your sport after making it past the admission post.
Author: Rahat Bano (HT Horizons)
Date: 11th June, 2010
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