Gagan changed my approach towards shooting: Elavenil

“I started training with Gagan last year and there have been quite a few changes in my approach towards shooting.  He has given me a lot of inputs. One has been my approach towards the target, I had to stabilise myself before shooting,” said Elavenil in a cheerful tone. 

Commenting on how she got hooked to the sport, the 18-year-old said, “One of my dad’s student’s daughter was one of the top shooters in the state. I co-incidentally got to meet her in 2013 and she just asked me to take up the sport.” 

“I started shooting for fun. I then got into DLSS (District Level Sports Scheme) programme. Sports Authority of Gujarat also made their contribution in it. We were provided with equipment and coaches and that’s is how I picked up,” added the ISSF Junior World Cup gold medallist, who has been based in Ahmedabad for the last 16 years.  

When asked about her immediate goals, she asserted, “We have two WCs happening every year.  I am currently training for the upcoming Junior World Cup in Germany. I am training on my fitness right now and my ultimate aim is to clinch an Olympic medal.” 

She has been training with GFG coach Neha for the past one and a half years. Neha lavished praise on Elavenil, crediting her for the amount of hard work her ward had put in recent times. 

“We have both grown together, her as a player and me as a coach. She is such a hard-working person and she has all the qualities that an athlete should have,” said Neha. 

“She has taken it one step at a time and she has managed to climb the ladder. The World Record did not happen all of a sudden. She has been consistently doing well and technically she is very sound right now and we are now working on her physical aspect,” added the coach.