Unlike most shooters who have represented India, the sport is not a legacy for Elavenil Valarivan. Born in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Elavenil, or Ela as she is called by those who know her well, took up shooting when she was around 12.
Her parents were academics and Valarivan remembers being “introduced to shooting by the daughter of my father’s student, who was into the sport”. That first mentor “gave me the initial training and even loaned me an air rifle. I did not know any other discipline. I got a hang of it and there was no looking back,” says Valarivan, who is also pursuing a Bachelors degree in Arts and Literature from Gujarat University.
Valarivan’s rise in shooting has been gradual but steady. She won her first gold medal at the age of 13, later winning a gold at the nationals. In 2018, she came under the mentorship of Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang and won gold medals at the ISSF Junior World Cups at Suhl and Sydney. But it was in 2019 that she stormed into the senior shooting scene, winning the gold at the Putian and Rio de Janeiro ISSF World Cups. Had the Tokyo Games been held on schedule in 2020, Valarivan would have been buoyed by the momentum. However, the Covid-19 pandemic halted her dominance. At the recent ISSF World Cups held in New Delhi and Osijek in Croatia, she failed to make it to the finals. She will be keen to put these blips behind her.
Valarivan joins a contingent of 15 shooters—India’s biggest ever—in Tokyo. Expectations are sky high, which explains why she tweeted in early June that she was “going offline” to have ‘#NoDistractions’ and focus on the ‘#OlympicDream’. She has been in Croatia since May, preparing with teammates. Among them is 18-year-old Divyansh Singh Panwar with whom Valarivan will participate in the 10m air rifle mixed team event that makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo. The duo won a gold medal at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi.
On the basis of past performances, Valarivan has appeared to be very strong in the finals as well as mixed team events. She does not get overwhelmed during matches and brings a very positive vibe to the range
Training abroad, Valarivan says, has been similar to what it was like back home—four hours of practising at the range besides working out and mental fitness exercises. How does she keep herself motivated, especially with Covid casting a shadow on the Games? “I am not limiting myself to this particular Olympics. I train keeping the long-term picture in mind,” she says.
Given Valarivan’s age and the Paris Games being only three years away, time is on her side. Her passion for shooting also remains high. “Shooting has made me a calmer person. It’s an addictive sport even though it may not look so to spectators. It’s a twisted game with complexities, which makes you want to go back to the grind again and again,” she says.
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