From a Borrowed Rifle to the Asian Games: Vidarsa K Vinod’s Remarkable Journey of Resilience

When Vidarsa K Vinod first picked up a rifle through the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in 2018, representing India at a major international event was nowhere in her plans. 

The youngster from Kozhikode, Kerala, was simply curious about shooting and hoped the sport might eventually help her secure a government job.

Eight years later, that modest beginning has taken her to the biggest stage of her career.

The 27-year-old has earned a place in India’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she will compete in both the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions events. Her selection is the culmination of a journey shaped not only by performances, but also by financial hardship, borrowed equipment, loneliness, sacrifice and a determination to continue when quitting seemed like the easier option.

“I just wanted to experience shooting. I never imagined it would become my profession,” Vidarsa recalled.

Her first major indication that she could build a career in the sport came at the Kerala State Championship, where she became the aggregate champion despite training with borrowed equipment. That achievement convinced her that shooting was more than a passing interest. But pursuing that dream came at a considerable cost.

Vidarsa comes from a middle-class family. Her father works as a contractor, and her mother is a homemaker. Shooting requires significant expenditure on rifles, ammunition, travel, accommodation and competition-related expenses. As her performances improved, so did the financial burden on her family.

“There were times when my parents couldn’t afford to travel with me to competitions, so I started travelling alone to reduce the financial burden,” she said.

In 2021, the family took a loan to help Vidarsa purchase her first rifle.

For an athlete, a rifle is essential equipment. For Vidarsa and her family, however, it represented much more — a financial gamble on a dream whose outcome was far from guaranteed. The COVID-19 pandemic brought another major setback. Vidarsa had been training with an association-owned rifle, and when the country went into lockdown, she lost access to the weapon. Her shooting came to a complete halt for nearly a year.

She refused to let the break end her preparation.

“I couldn’t shoot, but I never stopped training. I focused on fitness, yoga and meditation because I knew I had to be ready whenever the opportunity returned.”

Another important chapter began after the pandemic when she met fellow rifle shooter Manu S Ravi. What started as a friendship eventually developed into marriage, with Manu now working as a shooting coach in Kerala and continuing to support Vidarsa’s career. One conversation between them proved particularly significant.

Manu asked her a simple question: “Why don’t you own a rifle?” Initially, Vidarsa laughed because purchasing one seemed financially impossible. But the conversation prompted her to speak with her parents, and the family eventually decided to make the investment.

With Manu’s guidance and under coach Manoj Kumar, Vidarsa began making steady progress. In 2022, she won her first national medal, providing tangible evidence that the sacrifices were beginning to pay off. Seeking a stronger competitive environment, she subsequently moved to New Delhi to train at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.

Life in Delhi brought a different kind of challenge. She was not fluent in Hindi and had to adjust to living alone while managing cooking, household responsibilities and demanding training sessions. Her husband had returned to Kerala after taking up a coaching role.

“There were moments when it became physically and mentally exhausting, but I knew these sacrifices were necessary if I wanted to represent India,” she said.

The most difficult period came in early 2024. Financial pressures, coupled with repeated near misses in competition, pushed Vidarsa close to walking away from shooting.

“I had almost decided to quit,” she admitted. “But they never stopped believing in me, even when I was losing belief in myself.” That support eventually met an opportunity that changed her career.

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In 2024, Vidarsa earned a place at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE). With training, accommodation, nutrition and ammunition provided, many of the financial concerns that had previously consumed her attention were removed.

The results followed. In 2025, Vidarsa won her maiden international medal at the Asian Shooting Championship. Soon after came another milestone: selection for the Asian Games. For Vidarsa, the journey is not about comparing herself with India’s established shooting stars. Her philosophy is centred on process.

“I don’t compete against other shooters. I compete against myself,” she said. “My focus is always on following my process and becoming a better version of myself.” She also credits the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for providing what she considers a transparent, performance-based pathway for athletes. According to Vidarsa, consistent performances have opened doors to opportunities and support from the high-performance team, coaches and support staff.

Her progress has also influenced her family. Her younger brother, who was previously preparing for civil services and an MBA, has now taken up shooting and is training as a pistol shooter.

As Vidarsa prepares for her Asian Games debut, she remains focused on the same principle that carried her through the hardest years of her career: preparation. “Practice is where champions are made,” she said. “If I give my best every day in training, I know I’ll give my best in competition too.”

The Asian Games will be her biggest international assignment yet, but Vidarsa is already looking beyond it. Her ultimate target is clear. “My biggest dream is to become World No. 1. I want to discover my full potential and keep improving every time I step onto the range.”

From borrowing a rifle to buying one with a family loan, from nearly quitting to earning an Asian Games berth, Vidarsa K Vinod’s journey is ultimately a story about refusing to give up before discovering how far she can go.