Elavenil Strikes Gold, Shambhavi Rewrites Asian Junior Record as India’s Medal Surge Continues in New Delhi

Olympian Elavenil Valarivan delivered under pressure to clinch gold in the women’s 10m air rifle event, while Shambhavi Kshirsagar shattered the Asian Junior Finals Record en route to topping the junior podium at the ongoing Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.

With another commanding day across categories, India’s medal tally surged to 43 including 27 gold, 10 silver and eight bronze underlining the host nation’s dominance in the continental showpiece.

Elavenil Holds Her Nerve in Elite Final

The senior women’s 10m air rifle final was a high-quality contest that saw Elavenil tested early. After two series, she was placed fifth and outside the medal positions. However, the experienced Olympian steadily built momentum, climbing into contention by the 18th shot.

From there, it became a tactical duel between Elavenil and Japan’s Misaki Nobata, with Meghana Sajjanar also firmly in the medal hunt. Arya Borse, who had been among the top three until the 18th shot, slipped out of contention following a 9.8 that proved costly in a tightly packed field. Nobata mounted a late charge, firing two back-to-back 10.8s, but Elavenil responded with clinical precision in the elimination phase. She recorded ten hits of 10.6 or above, including a superb 10.9, to seal gold. Meghana Sajjanar completed the podium with bronze, giving India two medals in the event.

The Indian trio also combined to secure team gold with an aggregate of 1892.6, comfortably ahead of the competition.

Shambhavi’s Record-Breaking Masterclass

If Elavenil’s victory showcased composure, Shambhavi Kshirsagar’s performance in the junior final demonstrated outright dominance. The youngster rewrote the Asian Junior Finals Record with a stunning 253.7, surpassing the previous mark of 253.1 set by Isha Anil Taksale in Jakarta in 2024. Shambhavi was in control from the outset and widened the gap as the final progressed.

Her closing sequence underlined her authority: 10.7, 10.7, 10.8, 10.8, 10.9, 10.5, 10.9 and 10.7 a near-flawless run in the decisive phase. She eventually finished four points clear of Manyata Singh, who claimed silver with 249.7. Aneesha Sharma added bronze with a score of 227.5, ensuring a complete Indian sweep of the junior women’s podium. Shambhavi, Aneesha and Sandrata Roy also secured team gold with a combined 1884.2, reinforcing India’s depth in the discipline.

Ojasvi Thakur ensured India did not miss out on any gold on offer in the rifle categories, clinching the youth women’s 10m air rifle title with a score of 250.4 in the final. Sri Lanka’s Umaya Ovitigala Withanage secured silver, while Yasmin Figila Achadiat took bronze. Ojasvi teamed up with Anvii Vikram Rathod and Hrudya Shri Kondur to claim team gold as well, posting a total of 1890.6.

Pistol Sweep Sets the Tone

India had earlier begun the day with a commanding sweep in the 50m pistol men’s event. Former 10m air pistol World No.1 Saurabh Chaudhary led the charge, winning gold with 563-12x. Kamaljeet Chaudhary followed with silver (561-16x), while reigning world champion Ravinder Singh took bronze (559-10x).

The trio secured team gold, ahead of Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

In the junior men’s 50m pistol event, Yogesh Kumar added another gold for India with 557-10x. Uzbekistan’s Sodikjon Abdullaev took silver, while India’s Guntajpreet Singh secured bronze.

By the end of Day Four, India had amassed 43 medals 27 gold among them establishing a commanding lead on the championship leaderboard. The mix of senior experience and junior brilliance has been central to this success, with athletes delivering consistently across categories. With the air rifle mixed team medals set to be decided next, India will look to carry forward its rhythm and consolidate its position further at the top of the table.

The Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship continues to underline India’s growing strength across age groups, with record-breaking performances and podium sweeps signaling both depth and sustained excellence.