"Showing Up Every Single Day Kept Me Going": Elavenil Valarivan Opens Up on Injuries, Resilience and Her Road Back

For most athletes, success is measured by medals, rankings and records. For Elavenil Valarivan, however, the defining moments of her career have often come far away from the podium.

The former World No. 1 and one of India's finest rifle shooters has experienced the highest highs in international shooting, winning World Cup titles and representing India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Yet, behind those achievements lies a story of resilience, persistence and an unwavering commitment to her sport through some of the most challenging phases of her career.

Fresh from competing at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou, the 26-year-old has reflected on the journey that transformed an accidental introduction to shooting into an international career while also revealing the battles she fought to return from injuries that once threatened to end it altogether.

Unlike many elite athletes who grow up surrounded by sporting influences, Elavenil's introduction to shooting happened almost unexpectedly. She recalls that while there were no athletes in her family, her parents always encouraged her to remain active and explore different sports from an early age.

Before discovering shooting, she had already tried athletics, judo, badminton, handball, kabaddi and several other disciplines.

Eventually, shooting became more than just another activity.

"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."

That unexpected beginning eventually led her to become one of India's most successful rifle shooters, earning gold medals at the ISSF World Cup, ISSF World Cup Final, ISSF Junior World Cup and multiple Asian Shooting Championships.

As a young girl pursuing shooting, Elavenil also encountered societal stereotypes that questioned her choice of sport. She remembers being asked why a girl would spend her time carrying firearms instead of choosing a more conventional activity.

Rather than allowing those comments to influence her decisions, she chose to focus on the support she received from her family.

"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."

That mindset became an important foundation for her career as she steadily climbed through the international rankings to become the world's top-ranked women's 10m air rifle shooter.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/issf-world-cup-hangzhou-2026-sonam-uttam-maskar-and-himanshu-dhillon-win-bronze-in-10m-air-rifle-mixed-team

While competition on the shooting range presented one challenge, Elavenil admits her biggest battles came away from it.

In 2017, she developed a serious knee problem that significantly affected her ability to train.

"There was a time when I couldn't even stand through five shots without taking a break."

Just as she worked her way back, another setback followed.

In 2022, she suffered multiple disc bulges in both her cervical and lumbar spine, creating uncertainty about whether she would be able to continue competing at the highest level.

For an athlete whose sport demands stability, balance and long hours of standing, the injuries proved mentally as well as physically exhausting.

"There were moments when I genuinely wondered whether I would be able to continue in the sport."

Rather than focusing on what she could no longer do, Elavenil concentrated on what remained possible. Her recovery was built not around dramatic breakthroughs but around daily commitment.

"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."

Those words perhaps best summarise the philosophy that has defined her journey. Instead of measuring progress through medals or rankings, she found motivation in simply returning to the range each day, gradually rebuilding both confidence and physical fitness.

Elavenil also acknowledged the influence of the Gun for Glory Academy and the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation, institutions that have played a significant role in her development. She first joined the academy in 2014 through a Gujarat government initiative and has continued working closely with coach Neha Chavan, while Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang has remained a constant mentor throughout her career.

"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."

The continuity in coaching and mentorship has provided stability throughout the various phases of her career, particularly during rehabilitation from injuries.

Looking ahead, Elavenil remains focused on the upcoming Asian Games but is careful not to become consumed by long-term expectations. Instead, her emphasis remains on steady improvement.

"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."

That process-driven approach has become central to her mindset as she continues preparing for future international competitions.

Still only 26, Elavenil Valarivan has already achieved what many athletes dream of: a World No. 1 ranking, World Cup titles and Olympic representation. Yet, her story continues to evolve. More than the medals she has won, it is her resilience through adversity that defines her career. By choosing to "show up every single day", even when injuries threatened to take the sport away from her, Elavenil has demonstrated the qualities that separate champions from competitors. 

As she builds towards the Asian Games and beyond, Indian shooting will once again look to one of its most accomplished athletes to lead by example—both on and off the range.