Former World No. 1 air rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan has opened up about her journey from stumbling into shooting by coincidence to becoming one of India's most decorated markswomen — and the career-threatening injuries that nearly derailed it all. The 26-year-old, who recently competed at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, credited daily consistency, family backing, and a deep love for the sport as the pillars of her comeback.

An Accidental Beginning

Elavenil was not born into a sporting dynasty. Her family had no athletes, though sport was always encouraged at home. Before picking up a rifle, she tried athletics, judo, badminton, handball, and kabaddi. Shooting, she says, arrived almost by accident.

'It was because of my family that I started shooting. We did not have any athletes in the family, but we were always pro-sports... Looking back, I never realised when it transformed from something I enjoyed into a professional career,' she said.

That accidental beginning eventually led her to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and to the top of the world rankings in the women's 10m Air Rifle event. Her trophy cabinet includes gold medals at the ISSF World Cup, ISSF World Cup Final, ISSF Junior World Cup, and multiple Asian Shooting Championships.

Breaking Stereotypes on the Range

Rising through the sport as a young woman was not without friction. Elavenil recalls being questioned for carrying a firearm in public — a reflection of the social stereotypes that female shooters in India have long navigated.

'I do remember being asked, 'Why is a girl roaming around with guns in her hand?' But for me, what mattered was what my parents thought and what I believed about myself and my sport. Criticism will always exist, but I never allowed it to define my journey,' she said.

Her resolve mirrors a broader shift in Indian sport, where women athletes have increasingly pushed back against entrenched gender biases to claim elite status on the world stage.

The Injuries That Tested Her Limits

Away from the competition range, Elavenil's most gruelling battles were physical. In 2017, she developed a serious knee condition that left her unable to stand through five consecutive shots without a break. Five years later, in 2022, she suffered a back injury involving disc bulges in both the cervical and lumbar spine — an injury that raised genuine doubts about her ability to continue.

'There were moments when I genuinely wondered whether I would be able to continue in the sport,' she recalled. 'What helped me recover was simply showing up every single day. Even if I could only train for an hour before heading for rehabilitation, I wanted to remain associated with the sport. I love shooting, and that love kept me going through the toughest phase of my career.'

That philosophy of incremental commitment — turning up even when capacity was limited — is a recurring theme in elite athletic recovery, and Elavenil's account gives it rare personal texture.

The Support System Behind the Medals

Elavenil has trained under coach Neha Chavan since connecting with the Gun for Glory academy in 2014 through a Gujarat government initiative. Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang, founder of the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation, has served as a long-standing mentor throughout her career.

'I came in contact with the Gun for Glory academy in 2014 through a Gujarat government initiative. Since then, I've worked closely with my coach Neha Chavan, while Gagan Narang has been a constant mentor. Together, we've focused on improving every aspect of my sporting career,' she noted.

Eyes on What Comes Next

With the Asian Games on the horizon, Elavenil says she is deliberately avoiding outcome fixation. Her focus, she explains, remains on process — refining each element of her technique one session at a time.

'I'm not looking too far ahead. My coach and I are focusing on improving every small aspect of my game, one day at a time. We have plans for the season ahead, but the priority is to keep getting better every single day,' she said.

If her track record of recovery and consistency is any guide, Indian shooting's most resilient competitor is far from done.