Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan delivered one of her most memorable performances on the global stage, clinching two bronze medals one in the individual Women’s 10m Air Rifle and another in the team event at the ISSF World Rifle/Pistol Championships 2025 in Cairo.
It was a historic day for Indian shooting, marking another chapter in the country’s rise as a powerhouse in the discipline. Competing against the world’s best, including Olympic champion Ban Hyojin (KOR) and world record holder Wang Zifei (CHN), Elavenil shot with poise and precision in the final. Her total of 232.0 earned her the bronze medal, behind Ban Hyojin (255.0) and Wang Zifei (254.0).
For much of the final, Elavenil was right in the hunt for gold. She led the standings after the 14th shot, displaying consistency with a series of 10.7s and 10.8s. However, a 10.0 on her 19th shot proved costly, slipping her to third place in what was one of the most intense World Championship finals in recent memory. The contest ended with Ban edging Wang by just one point, reaffirming her dominance following her Paris Olympic gold.
Elavenil’s third-place finish, though, was equally significant it marked her first individual senior World Championships medal, and India’s third-ever podium finish in this event after Anjum Moudgil’s silver in 2018 and Mehuli Ghosh’s bronze in 2023.
Qualification: Calm Precision Amid a World-Class Field
Elavenil’s journey to the podium began in the qualification round, where she shot 633.4 to finish fifth among 140 shooters. The round was of exceptional quality, with scores above 633 required to reach the final a threshold that underlines just how competitive the event has become.
Her Indian teammates Meghana Sajjanar (631.2) and Shreya Agrawal (628.7) also performed strongly, finishing 14th and 26th respectively. Together, their combined total of 1893.3 secured India the bronze medal in the team standings, behind China (1901.7) and Korea (1899.9).
For context, China’s trio Han Jiayu (635.1), Wang Zifei (634.2), and Peng Xinlu (632.4) were near-perfect in execution, claiming the team gold with a dominant display. Korea’s Ban Hyojin (633.0), Kwon Eunji (633.6), and Kwon Yuna (633.3) narrowly edged India by just 6.6 points for silver.
That slim margin only highlights how close India has come to matching the very best in the world. It also underscores the collective rise of Indian women’s rifle shooting from being strong contenders to now being regulars on the global podium.
This bronze carries emotional weight for Elavenil Valarivan. Just last year, she experienced the heartbreak of missing out on the Paris Olympics final by a whisker. She sat dejected, watching others celebrate qualification while she missed out on countback a moment that tested her resilience and mental toughness. Fast forward to 2025, and the transformation is remarkable. The Ahmedabad-born shooter entered Cairo as the Asian Champion, having dominated the continental circuit earlier this year. The confidence and composure she carried from those triumphs were evident throughout the week in Egypt.
Every stage of her campaign reflected a matured shooter steady, unflappable, and technically immaculate. Her qualification round of 633.4 was not just about consistency but also control, balancing aggression with focus under pressure. The same calmness carried into the final, where she traded shots with Olympic and world titleholders without flinching.
Historic Feat: Third Indian Woman, Sixth Overall Medalist in Event
Elavenil’s bronze has etched her name in India’s shooting history. She is now only the third Indian woman to win an individual World Championships medal in 10m Air Rifle, following Anjum Moudgil (2018) and Mehuli Ghosh (2023). Overall, she becomes the sixth Indian athlete (men and women combined) to win an individual World Championships medal in this discipline.
What makes this achievement even more special is that it comes at a time when India’s rifle squad is among the most competitive in its history. The internal competition with names like Mehuli Ghosh, Tilottama Sen, Ramita Jindal, and Nancy Mandhotra has pushed Elavenil to elevate her own game. The dual bronze haul individual and team reflects not just Elavenil’s brilliance but also the collective depth and consistency in Indian women’s rifle shooting.
India’s total of four medals a Gold, Silver & Two Bronze so far at Cairo underlines the nation’s steady ascent in world shooting. For Elavenil, this weekend marks a personal high point the culmination of years of perseverance, quiet hard work, and mental conditioning after setbacks.
From missing finals by decimals to winning medals at the sport’s grandest stage, her journey is a story of persistence and belief. Standing on the podium in Cairo, alongside the sport’s greatest names, Elavenil represented more than individual achievement. She embodied the growing strength and spirit of Indian shooting a discipline where India is no longer the underdog but a consistent challenger for world titles.
Final Results: 10m Air Rifle Women (Individual)
🥇 Ban Hyojin (KOR) – 255.0
🥈 Wang Zifei (CHN) – 254.0
🥉 Elavenil Valarivan (IND) – 232.0
Team Event Results: 10m Air Rifle Women
🥇 China – 1901.7
🥈 Korea – 1899.9
🥉 India – 1893.3 (Valarivan 633.4, Sajjanar 631.2, Agrawal 628.7)
From heartbreak in 2024 to double-bronze glory in 2025 Elavenil Valarivan’s story in Cairo will be remembered as one of grit, grace, and redemption.
