Mumbai, Nov. 24 -- Komal Waghmare walked into her first international final in Tokyo with a small handwritten note carrying a single word - focus. It was a reminder to trust the routine the Mumbai-based shooter had repeated for months. That note ensured she walked out of the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics with two bronze medals. "Winning one medal is special," the 22-year-old said. "But winning two for India at the Deaflympics felt like all the hard work and silent battles finally found their voice." Those battles began long before Tokyo. Her hearing impairment, present since birth which worsened at 16, brought communication challenges. Yet, with hearing aids and sign cues from her coaches, she viewed herself "no different from any other able-bodied athlete." She had already won two silver medals at the National Championships and competed at the Khelo India University Games, but Tokyo was a different stage. Preparation included 120-shot sessions daily, three-hour practices focused on pacing and consistency, and 10-day camps at Lakshya Shooting Club in Navi Mumbai and at the NRAI setup. "I used imagery to visualise my pre-final routine, my shot process, and see myself confident on the lane," she said. Dronacharya Awardee Suma Shirur, who has been coaching her, said that Komal's quick grasping ability sets her apart. "Training a hearing-impaired athlete means repeating instructions and ensuring clarity, but Komal makes it effortless. She learns fast and adapts even faster," Shirur said. In the women's 10m air rifle event, on November 16, she closed the final with 228.3. Two days later she teamed up with Mohammed Murtaza Vania in the mixed event. And after a tense contest, she finished with two consecutive 10.9s, a 10.8, and a final 10.6 under pressure to seal bronze....