Another remarkable performance from shooting prodigy Elavenil Valarivan as she wins gold in the on-going ISSF World Cup in Putian, China, on Thursday. It turned out to be a golden day for Indian shooters in the ISSF World Cup Finals as two back to back gold medals were added to the tally. After Manu Bhaker won India's first gold, Elavenil clinched the second gold to claim the top honours in the women's 10m air rifle competition. The 20-year-old Elavenil fired up and shot an excellent score of 250.8, leaving behind Taiwan's Lin Ying-Shin (250.7). Romania's Laura-Georgeta Coman finished third with a score of 229.
Key Takeaways:
- Elavenil Valarivan won gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle competition in the on-going ISSF World Cup in Putian, China
- After Manu Bhaker won India's first gold, Elavenil clinched the second gold to claim the top honours at the event.
- Elavenil shot 250.8 in the finals, leaving behind Taiwan's Lin Ying-Shin (250.7) and Romania's Laura-Georgeta Coman (229).
- The 20-year-old from Tamil Nadu had earlier won gold medals at ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney and Suhl in 2018.
- India has won three out of the four World Cup gold medals in the women’s 10m Air this year.
In July this year, Elavenil bagged silver — the first medal for India at the 10m Air Rifle Women’s event of the Napoli World University Games, 2019. The shooter shot a score of 249.0.
Emerging sporting icon
The Ahmadabad-based shooter, who is currently pursuing English Literature from Gujarat University, began her journey in 2013 when her father, scientist Valarivan Rudrapati, took her to the Ahmadabad Military and Rifle Training Club to meet one of his students; she was just 13 back then. Valarivan was born in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, grew up in Ahmadabad, and trains in academies located in Pune and Chennai. Initially, Elavenil trained at the military club. Later, she was selected in the Sports Authority of Gujarat’s training programme.
In July this year, Elavenil bagged silver — the first medal for India at the 10m Air Rifle Women’s event of the Napoli World University Games, 2019. The shooter shot a score of 249.0.
Shooting limelight
She held her first rifle in 2016, and stepped into the spotlight when she participated in Indian junior team, winning the gold medal at the Junior World Cup in Sydney in March in 2017. She won the medal with three scores of 10.5 or more in her last four shots.
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Career milestones:
- Elavenil won her maiden gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle event at the senior ISSF World Cup in August this year. She was only the third Indian shooter after Apurvi Chandela and Anjali Bhagwat to win a gold medal at the event.
- She created history last year by clinching gold in the women’s 10m Air Rifle event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Sydney. She became world champion at the ISSF Munich World Cup. And also claimed a silver medal at the Changwon World Cup.
- In 2017, she topped the selection trials with a world record-equalling score of 252.1. She edged past Rio Olympian Ayonika Paul and Elizabeth Koshie. The same year, Elavenil became the 10m air rifle champion at the senior Nationals in Kerala with a score of 250.6 in the final.
- Elavenil broke the previous record held by fellow Indian shooter Mehuli Ghosh. This was her first participation in the finals. The teen knocked out shooters from Chinese Taipei and China and claimed gold with 249.8 points.
- She came 28th in Junior World Championship in Suhl in 2017.
- She trains at Olympic medallist Gagan Narang’s Gun For Glory Academy. Besides her individual podium finish at the season’s first junior ISSF World Cup, Elavenil also combined forces with Shreya Agrawal and Zeena Khitta to claim the team gold medal.
Feature Image Credit: Deccan Chronicle
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