India’s shooting contingent continued its golden run at the Asian Shooting Championships as Elavenil Valarivan delivered a masterclass performance, clinching the gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle event at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi. The reigning champion not only defended her title with authority but also spearheaded India’s triumph in the team event, underlining her status as one of the country’s most consistent rifle shooters.
Adding to India’s medal haul, Meghana Sajjanar secured the bronze medal, ensuring a double podium finish for the hosts in one of the most competitive events of the championship. Elavenil showcased remarkable composure and precision in the final, finishing with a score of 252.0 to edge past Japan’s Misaki Nobata (251.5). Meghana Sajjanar claimed the bronze with 229.5, while India’s third finalist, Arya Borse, narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth with 209.0.
This victory marked Elavenil’s third Asian Championship gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle category, an achievement that reflects her consistency and ability to perform on the big stage.
India’s excellence was not limited to individual success. Elavenil, Arya Borse, and Meghana Sajjanar combined to win the team gold medal, posting an impressive aggregate score of 1892.6 in the qualification round. Elavenil led the charge with 633.7, followed closely by Arya’s 630.3 and Meghana’s 628.6, comfortably outscoring their closest competitors, including Chinese Taipei.
Although Shreya Agrawal (632.0) and Sonam Uttam Maskar (631.9) finished third and fourth respectively in qualification, they were not eligible for the final as they were competing for ranking points. Nevertheless, their performances further highlighted India’s depth in women’s rifle shooting.
With this result, India’s medal count in the senior category at the ongoing Asian Shooting Championships has risen to six gold, three silver, and two bronze medals, a testament to the country’s growing dominance in international shooting.
