Bengaluru: The power of print has come to the fore yet again.“A year ago, I was pushing my limits but hitting a wall without world-class equipment. Then, a single article in The Times of India changed everything,” international rifle shooter Meghana Sajjanar shared Tuesday.The Bengaluru-based athlete took to social media to reveal a remarkable story of unexpected support that gave wings to her global sporting ambitions. It turned out that Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana had read The Times of India feature detailing Meghana’s challenges with top-tier gear and quietly stepped in to sponsor a state-of-the-art rifle for her.“He didn’t know me. We had never met. He just wanted to see an Indian athlete win on the global stage,” Meghana wrote in her post, which quickly went viral. “That rifle levelled the playing field for me, allowing me to train without compromise and take on the best in the world.”The crucial intervention allowed Meghana to compete at the highest level without distractions. Her legendary grit was on full display in New Delhi, where she won a team gold and an individual bronze at the Asian Championship — while eight months pregnant.After giving birth to a baby girl, she returned to rigorous training in June. She is now gearing up for the upcoming ISSF World Cup in Cairo.On Tuesday, the shooter finally met her benefactor in person. “Today, I finally got to express my gratitude to the man who quietly backed my dreams when I needed it the most. No noise, just pure support for Indian sports,” she expressed.Reacting to her post, Ayushmann Khurrana told TOI that reading about her story left him incredibly inspired. “I am deeply grateful to The Times of India for bringing her journey to my attention. I was genuinely amazed by her talent, determination, and raw ambition,” Khurrana said.“Indian athletes make us incredibly proud on the world stage, and it is our collective responsibility as citizens to support them,” the actor added.“Our sportspersons are the real heroes of our country. I’m just happy I could play a tiny part in her journey and see an Indian athlete get the opportunity to conquer the world.”
