Did Elavenil Valarivan Win Gold at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships?
Synopsis
In a thrilling day at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championships, Elavenil Valarivan edged out her rival from Japan for gold, while Shambhavi Kshirsagar set a new junior record. With India dominating the competition, this event showcased incredible talent and national pride. Discover how these athletes performed at the prestigious championship.
Key Takeaways
Elavenil Valarivan wins gold in the 10m Air Rifle women’s event.
Shambhavi Kshirsagar sets a new Asian Junior record.
India achieves a total of 43 medals overall.
Ojasvi Thakur excels in the youth category.
India dominates the podium in the 50m Men’s Pistol event.
New Delhi, Feb 7 (NationPress) Olympian Elavenil Valarivan edged out Japan’s Misaki Nobata to clinch gold in the 10m Air Rifle women’s event. In another exciting development, Shambhavi Kshirsagar shattered the junior record at the Asian Junior Finals and also secured gold in the junior category during the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 20206, hosted at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.
Additionally, Meghana Sajjanar made her mark by winning a bronze medal, and alongside Manyata Singh and Aneesha Sharma, they ensured a clean sweep of the Junior women’s medals for India.
India showcased its prowess in the championship, attaining a total of ten gold medals on the fourth day of events, raising their overall medal tally to 43, which consists of 27 gold, 10 silver, and eight bronze medals. Ojasvi Thakur also claimed gold in the women’s youth category.
The day commenced with India dominating the podium in the 50m Men’s Pistol event, where former 10m Air Pistol World No 1 Saurabh Chaudhary captured gold, followed by Kamaljeet Chaudhary and current World Champion Ravinder Singh, who won silver and bronze, respectively. Moreover, Yogesh Kumar secured gold in the junior category.
Elavenil began the finals in fifth place after two series but steadily climbed to the lead by the 18th shot. She kept her composure to remain at the top, with Nobata and Meghana closely trailing. Arya Borse, who was in contention for a medal until the 18th shot, fell behind after scoring a low 9.8, followed by two 10.2’s. Nobata concluded her finals with two consecutive 10.8s, while Elavenil averaged 10.6 in the elimination stage, including one 10.9. The Indian team also achieved gold with a combined score of 1892.6.
In the Junior finals, Shambhavi set a remarkable new Asian Junior record of 253.7, surpassing Isha Anil Taksale's previous record of 253.1 from Jakarta in 2024. She began with a strong lead, ultimately winning gold with a four-point advantage over Manyata Singh, who scored 249.7. Shambhavi's last eight shots included scores of 10.7, 10.7, 10.8, 10.8, 10.9, 10.5, 10.9, and 10.7, showcasing her exceptional skill. Aneesha Sharma earned bronze with a final tally of 227.5. Together, Shambhavi, Aneesha, and Sandrata Roy secured the team gold with a total score of 1884.2.
Ojasvi Thakur claimed all available gold medals for India on that day, triumphing in the Youth category with a score of 250.4. Sri Lanka’s Umaya Ovitigala Withanage took silver, while Yasmin Figila Achadiat captured bronze. Ojasvi also collaborated with Anvii Vikram Rathod and Hrudya Shri Kondur to win the team gold with a total score of 1890.6.
Other Results
50m Pistol Men
Gold - Saurabh Chaudhary (India) – 563-12x
Silver - Kamaljeet Chaudhary (India) – 561-16x
Bronze - Ravinder Singh (India) – 559-10x
50m Pistol Men Team
Gold – India
Silver – Uzbekistan
Bronze – Vietnam
50m Pistol Junior Men
Gold - Yogesh Kumar (India) – 557-10x
Silver - Sodikjon Abdullaev (Uzbekistan) – 544-10x
Bronze - Guntajpreet Singh (India) – 542-7x
The medals for the mixed team event in Air Rifle will be awarded on Sunday.
Point of View
I believe this event highlights the remarkable talent and dedication of young Indian shooters. With the success of Elavenil and Shambhavi, it is evident that India's future in shooting sports looks bright. Their accomplishments inspire upcoming athletes and showcase the country's strength in this competitive arena.
NationPress
20 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the 10m Air Rifle women's event?
Elavenil Valarivan from India won gold in the 10m Air Rifle women's event.
What record did Shambhavi Kshirsagar break?
Shambhavi Kshirsagar set a new Asian Junior record at 253.7.
Where was the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship held?
The championship was held at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.
How many medals did India win in total?
India won a total of 43 medals, including 27 gold, 10 silver, and 8 bronze.
Who secured gold in the men's 50m pistol event?
Saurabh Chaudhary won gold in the men's 50m pistol event.
