Elavenil Valarivan Wins Air Rifle Gold In Rio World Cup

Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a remarkable victory in the women’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Cup 2023 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a thrilling Saturday. The 24-year-old Olympian showcased her exceptional skills and nerves of steel as she outperformed her competitors to clinch the coveted gold medal.

A Spectacular Final Performance

In the final of the women’s 10m air rifle event, Elavenil Valarivan demonstrated her precision and composure, shooting an impressive score of 252.2 from a series of 24 shots. Her remarkable performance allowed her to narrowly edge out France’s Oceanne Muller, who scored 251.9. Jiale Zhang of the People’s Republic of China secured the final podium position with a score of 229.0. In a highly competitive field, a total of eight shooters qualified for the final showdown.

Elavenil Valarivan’s Previous Triumphs

This victory marked Elavenil Valarivan’s second individual ISSF World Cup medal. She had previously clinched the 10m air rifle gold medal in Rio in 2019, further solidifying her reputation as a top-notch shooter. Valarivan’s journey to the final in Rio this year was nothing short of remarkable. She finished ninth in the qualification round with a score of 630.5, just barely making the final cut thanks to China’s Wang Zifei, who opted to shoot for ranking points only.

Performance of Other Indian Shooters

While Elavenil Valarivan stood out with her gold medal-winning performance, other Indian shooters also participated in the competition. Narmada Nithin Raju finished 22nd with a score of 628.6, while Ayushi Podder secured the 32nd position with a score of 626.9.

Men’s 10m Air Rifle Event

In the men’s individual 10m air rifle event, Sandeep Singh represented India. He finished 14th in the qualification round with a score of 628.2, competing fiercely against some of the world’s best shooters.

Narrow Miss in the Mixed Team Event

Elavenil Valarivan and Sandeep Singh had a close call in the 10m air rifle mixed team event, narrowly missing out on a medal by just 0.5 points.

The Conclusion of the Rio World Cup

The ISSF World Cup 2023 in Rio de Janeiro marked the last rifle and pistol event of the year. The competition in the Brazilian city will be followed by the finals scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, from November 18 to 27.

Indian Contingent at the ISSF World Cup

India was well-represented at the ISSF World Cup, with a 16-member squad participating in the event. However, it’s noteworthy that some of the shooters who are bound for the Asian Games decided to skip the Rio World Cup, showcasing the depth of talent in Indian shooting sports.

Elavenil Valarivan’s exceptional performance in Rio not only adds to her growing list of achievements but also serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring shooters across India. Her dedication and skill have once again brought glory to the nation on the international shooting stage.

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