ISSF World Championships 2025: Elavenil Valarivan Wins Bronze in Women’s 10m Air Rifle, Becomes Third Indian to Medal at Worlds

Asian Champion Elavenil Valarivan adds another feather to India’s shooting crown with a bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle event at the ISSF World Championships 2025 in Cairo.

Indian shooting sensation Elavenil Valarivan etched her name into the history books by clinching the bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle event at the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Championships 2025 in Cairo, Egypt. With this feat, Elavenil became only the third Indian woman—after Anjum Moudgil (2018) and Mehuli Ghosh (2023)—to win a medal in this highly competitive Olympic discipline at the World Championships.

A Historic Moment for Indian Shooting

Elavenil, a 26-year-old shooter from Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, delivered a stellar performance in the finals, finishing with an impressive score of 232.0 points. She displayed remarkable consistency and composure throughout the event, at one point even leading the competition, before a narrow slip in her final shots placed her third overall.

The gold medal was won by Olympic Champion Ban Hyojin of South Korea, who dominated the final with a commanding score of 255 points, while China’s Wang Zifei, the current world record holder, secured the silver medal with 254 points.

How the Final Unfolded

In an intense final featuring eight of the world’s best shooters, Elavenil’s precision shooting stood out. Over her first 18 shots, she never went below 10.4, a testament to her stability under pressure.

However, her 19th shot, a 10.0, proved pivotal, momentarily breaking her rhythm. She quickly recovered with a 10.6, but her last two shots — 10.4 and 9.9 — left her with a total of 232 points, securing the bronze medal.

Her coach, Neha Chavan from Gun for Glory Academy, later explained:

“When you are in the Top 3, the margin is razor-thin. One small miss or even a momentary lapse can shift positions. But Elavenil showed tremendous resilience and calm.”

Elavenil’s Journey: From Consistent Performer to World Medalist

The ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Championships represent the highest level of competition in the sport, often featuring Olympic medalists and world record holders. For Elavenil, who had been knocking on the door of major podiums, this bronze was a culmination of steady progress and mental maturity.

In 2025, she had already won bronze at the Munich World Cup and a gold at the Asian Championship, marking her as India’s best-performing rifle shooter of the season. Her long-time coach Neha Chavan noted that rediscovering her love for the sport played a crucial role:

“In the junior circuit, you enjoy the process. But as you move up, it becomes about results. Elavenil has found that balance again — between joy and performance.”

This return to form follows her heartbreak at the Paris Olympics, where she narrowly missed qualifying for the final by a few decimal points. That same event saw her comforting teammate Arjun Babuta, who missed a medal — an image that reflected her sportsmanship and emotional strength.

Praise from Coaches and the Shooting Fraternity

India’s rifle coach Deepali Deshpande, who closely followed the event, hailed the performance as Elavenil’s best of the year:

“This was the most competitive final of the season. Every shot mattered. Elavenil didn’t blink — she showed composure and confidence. With each match, she’s improving.”

Elavenil herself reflected on her journey with humility:

“It was one of the most intense finals I’ve ever shot. I’m happy with my performance. I’ve been consistent, and the hard work we’ve done as a team is paying off.”

Team and Other Indian Performances

In the qualification round, Elavenil had finished 5th with a strong score of 633.4, ensuring her place in the final. Each of her six qualification series scored 105 or above, indicating her top form from the start.

Her compatriots Meghana Sajjanar and Shreya Agrawal finished 17th and 33rd respectively. However, together, the trio—Elavenil, Meghana, and Shreya—helped India clinch a team bronze medal in the same event with a cumulative score of 1893.3, behind China (1901.7) and South Korea (1899.9).

It was also Elavenil and Meghana’s second consecutive team bronze at the World Championships in Cairo, having achieved the same result in 2022.

India’s Medal Haul on Day 1: A Strong Start

The opening day of the ISSF World Championships Rifle/Pistol 2025 proved fruitful for India, with the team bagging four medals — one gold, one silver, and two bronze.

Army shooter Ravinder Singh struck gold in the Men’s 50m Pistol (non-Olympic event), scoring 569-12x, ahead of Korea’s Kim Cheongyong (556-12x) and AIN’s Anton Aristarkhov (556-8x). Ravinder also helped India secure the team silver medal in the same event, along with Kamljeet (540–9x) and Yogesh Kumar (537–5x), with a combined total of 1646–26x, narrowly missing gold by two points to South Korea (1648–28x).

This continued success follows Ravinder’s dual bronzes at the 2023 World Championships in Baku, further solidifying his place as one of India’s most dependable shooters.

Meanwhile, in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle, Arjun Babuta finished 7th, after a strong qualification performance, while India’s team narrowly missed a podium, finishing 4th overall.

India’s Growing Shooting Legacy

India’s 40-member shooting contingent for Cairo, including Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Swapnil Kusale, has showcased the nation’s growing depth and dominance in the sport.

Elavenil’s bronze marks another step in India’s rapid ascent in world shooting, which has been powered by better training facilities, scientific coaching, and increased international exposure. With each event, Indian shooters are steadily building momentum toward the Paris 2028 Olympics.