Gujarat govt presents Rs 1.33 crore prize to Shooter Elavenil Valarivan for two Asian Games silver medals

Ahmedabad: Gujarat shooter Elavenil Valarivan was presented with a cheque for ₹1.33 crore under the Gujarat government’s Khel Pratibha Puraskar Yojana for winning two silver medals in rifle shooting at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Valarivan brought laurels to India and Gujarat with her performances in the women’s 10m air rifle individual and team events, winning a silver medal in each.

Handing over the prize and congratulating the 25-year-old shooter, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said the Gujarat government was committed to providing athletes with the training facilities and support needed to compete at the international level. He also highlighted the role of parents in nurturing sporting talent and supporting athletes throughout their careers.

Sanghavi noted that Valarivan had trained at the Sanskardham complex under the state government’s DLSS scheme and said her achievements at the Asian Games were a matter of pride for Gujarat. He added that athletes emerging from such programmes could inspire thousands of youngsters across the state to take up sports.

According to the state government, Valarivan has received ₹1.33 crore in financial assistance under the Shaktidoot Yojana and Olympic Incentive Scheme, while another ₹74 lakh has been provided through initiatives including the DLSS scheme and Khel Mahakumbh. In total, she has received incentives worth ₹2.41 crore from the Gujarat government.

Valarivan, who considers Gujarat her karmabhumi, lives in Ahmedabad’s Maninagar area and has been associated with the state’s Shaktidoot Yojana since 2017-18. She is currently placed in the scheme’s A category and has established herself as one of Gujarat’s prominent shooters.

Her international career includes appearances at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics. In 2019, she won gold at the ISSF World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, recording a score of 251.7.

In recognition of her achievements, the Government of India conferred the Arjuna Award on Valarivan in 2022. She has also won gold, silver and bronze medals at various international events, including the Junior World Cups in Suhl and Sydney in 2018, the Asian Airgun Championship, the World University Games in Chengdu, and competitions in Munich and Kazakhstan. DeshGujarat