Rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan delivered a standout performance at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, claiming two silver medals in the women's 10-metre air rifle event — one in the individual category and one in the team competition. The Ahmedabad-based athlete's double podium finish has reinforced her standing as one of India's foremost shooting talents.

State Honours Elavenil with ₹1.33 Crore Cheque

In recognition of her Asian Games achievement, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi presented Elavenil with a cheque of ₹1.33 crore under the state government's Khel Pratibha Puraskar on 28 September. This followed an earlier disbursement of ₹74 lakh under various other state government schemes, bringing her total government support to over ₹2 crore. The award was intended both to honour her achievement and to motivate her toward further milestones.

Expressing her gratitude, Elavenil said she was thankful to the government — particularly the Gujarat government — for introducing initiatives that empower athletes both physically and mentally. She added that such schemes were helping India establish its identity as a sporting nation.

A Journey That Began in Class 8

Elavenil's father, R. Valarivan, recalled that she began her shooting journey in 2012, when she was studying in Class 8. A first bronze medal at the school level sparked her resolve to pursue the sport professionally. Since then, she has accumulated approximately 46 medals at the international level across various competitions, according to her father.

A resident of Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Elavenil studied at Sanskardham under the District Level Sports School (DLSS) scheme and has been associated with the Shaktidoot scheme since 2017–18, where she holds an A category classification. She has represented India at two successive Olympics — the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the Paris Olympics 2024. The Central Government recognised her contributions to Indian shooting with the Arjuna Award in 2022.

Gujarat's Sports Infrastructure Behind the Success

The Gujarat government runs several programmes designed to identify and develop sporting talent. The DLSS scheme, Khel Mahakumbh, and Shaktidoot are among the flagship initiatives. According to Amit Gamit, Assistant Director at the Sports Authority of Gujarat (SAG) in Gandhinagar, the government spends ₹1.5 lakh per athlete under the DLSS scheme and approximately ₹3 lakh on athletes selected under the academy scheme.

Under the Khel Pratibha Puraskar, financial assistance ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹5 crore is extended to talented sportspersons depending on their level of achievement. This tiered structure is designed to support athletes from grassroots competitions through to international podium finishes.

Inspiration for the Next Generation

Elavenil's trajectory — from a school-level bronze in 2012 to two Asian Games silvers in 2026 — underscores the compound value of early institutional support paired with sustained personal commitment. Her parents have been central to her journey, and her father's account of the long road from Ahmedabad classrooms to the Asian Games podium offers a template that coaches and state officials point to when making the case for continued investment in grassroots shooting infrastructure.

With the next quadrennial cycle already in view, Elavenil's focus is expected to shift toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she will look to convert international silvers into the Olympic medal that has so far eluded her.