Elavenil Valarivan Opens Up on Career-Threatening Injuries and Road Back to World Shooting

Former World No. 1 air rifle shooter Elavenil Valarivan has reflected on the highs and lows of her career, opening up about the injuries that nearly forced her to quit the sport and the resilience that helped her return to the international stage.

The 26-year-old, who recently competed at the 2026 ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, credited consistency, family support and her love for shooting as the driving forces behind her recovery and continued pursuit of success.

One of India’s most accomplished rifle shooters, Elavenil represented the country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and has established herself among the world’s elite in the women’s 10m Air Rifle event. Her medal haul includes gold at the ISSF World Cup, ISSF World Cup Final, ISSF Junior World Cup and multiple Asian Shooting Championships, cementing her place among India’s most decorated shooters.

Looking back on how her journey began, Elavenil revealed that sport had always been encouraged in her household, despite there being no athletic background in the family.

“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. I had tried athletics, judo, badminton, handball, kabaddi and many other sports before shooting happened almost by coincidence. Looking back, I never realised when it transformed from something I enjoyed into a professional career,” she said.

As she climbed to the top of world rankings, Elavenil also encountered stereotypes about women participating in shooting. She recalled being questioned for choosing a sport associated with firearms but said she never allowed those comments to affect her ambitions.

“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.”

Away from competition, however, some of her toughest challenges came through injury.

Elavenil revealed that a serious knee problem in 2017 left her unable to stand through even five shots without taking a break. The setbacks continued in 2022 when she suffered disc bulges in both her cervical and lumbar spine, raising doubts about whether she could continue competing.

“In 2017, I developed a serious knee issue and there was a time when I couldn’t even stand through five shots without taking a break. Later, in 2022, I suffered a back injury with disc bulges in my cervical and lumbar spine. There were moments when I genuinely wondered whether I would be able to continue in the sport,” she recalled.

Despite the uncertainty, Elavenil said remaining connected to shooting became the key to her recovery.

“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,” she added.

The rifle shooter also acknowledged the role played by the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation and the Gun for Glory academy in shaping her career. She has trained under coach Neha Chavan since joining the academy in 2014 through a Gujarat government initiative, while Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang has remained a constant mentor.

“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 said.

With the Asian Games on the horizon, Elavenil says her focus remains firmly on steady improvement rather than results.

“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.”

Currently training under Neha Chavan at the Gun for Glory academy under the mentorship of Gagan Narang, Elavenil remains focused on representing India on the biggest stages and adding more milestones to an already distinguished career.