ANI Photo | Vidarsa K Vinod earns Asian Games spot after years of perseverance
Vidarsa K Vinod, a 27-year-old shooter from Kozhikode district in Kerala, will represent India at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, competing in the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions events. Her journey began in 2018 when she first handled a rifle through the National Cadet Corps without aiming for international medals, but was driven by a desire to experience shooting and possibly secure a government job.
Born into a middle-class family with her father working as a contractor and her mother as a homemaker, Vidarsa faced financial challenges typical of one of the most expensive Olympic sports. “I just wanted to experience shooting. I never imagined it would become my profession. When I became the aggregate champion at the Kerala State Championship despite training with borrowed equipment, I realised this was the sport I wanted to pursue,” she said.
As her performances improved, expenses increased to cover rifles, ammunition, travel and accommodation for selection trials. To ease the burden, she often travelled alone, and in 2021, her family took a loan for her first rifle purchase. “Looking back, that was one of the biggest investments they made–not just in equipment, but in my dream,” Vidarsa added.
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted her progress as lockdowns prevented access to her association-owned rifle, halting her shooting for nearly a year. During this period, she maintained physical preparation through fitness, yoga and meditation. She explained, “I could not 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.”
After the pandemic, Vidarsa met fellow rifle shooter Manu S Ravi, who became her friend, supporter, and later her husband. Serving as a shooting coach in Kerala, Manu encouraged her to invest in owning a rifle, saying, “Why do not you own a rifle?” This prompted discussions with her family leading to the purchase of her own rifle.
Under the coaching of Manoj Kumar and supported by her husband, her performances improved, culminating in her first national medal in 2022. She then moved to New Delhi to train at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range to gain stronger competitive experience. Adapting to life alone in a new city while managing household tasks and training was challenging, especially without fluency in Hindi. She noted, “Living alone in Delhi was not easy. I had to cook for myself, manage everything on my own and continue training every day. There were moments when it became physically and mentally exhausting, but I knew these sacrifices were necessary if I wanted to represent India.”
In early 2024, financial pressures and repeated near misses nearly led her to quit the sport. “I had almost decided to quit. My family, my husband and my coach had sacrificed so much, and I felt guilty. But they never stopped believing in me, even when I was losing belief in myself.” Her turning point came when she earned a place in the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE), which provided training, accommodation, nutrition and ammunition, allowing her to focus on performance.
“Getting into the SAI NCOE changed everything. It removed many of the worries that had been holding me back and allowed me to focus on becoming a better shooter every single day,” she said.
Her dedication yielded results, including her maiden international medal at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championship and selection for the Asian Games. Vidarsa emphasised her focus on self-improvement rather than direct competition with others: “I do not compete against other shooters. I compete against myself. My focus is always on following my process and becoming a better version of myself. If I do that consistently, the results will come.”
She also praised the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for its transparent, merit-based system. “One thing I truly appreciate about the NRAI is that the entire system is based on performance. As an athlete, you know that if you perform consistently, you will earn opportunities and the support needed to progress. There is complete transparency in the selection process, which gives every shooter the confidence that their hard work will be rewarded. Once I started performing, the entire support system–from the High-Performance team to the coaches and support staff–was always there to guide me, listen to my concerns and help me improve,” she said.
Vidarsa further noted, “What I also value is that athletes have an open platform to share their concerns. Even the NRAI President, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, is approachable and willing to listen if we have any issues or suggestions. That gives athletes a lot of confidence because you know your voice matters.”
Her influence has extended to her family, with her younger brother shifting from civil services and MBA preparations to training as a pistol shooter, inspired by her example.
As she approaches her Asian Games debut, Vidarsa remains focused on consistent effort: “Whether it’s the Asian Games, a World Cup or a national competition, my approach doesn’t change. Practice is where champions are made. If I give my best every day in training, I know I’ll give my best in competition too.”
While the Asian Games represent a significant milestone, her ambition remains high: “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.”