Vidarsa K Vinod rises from borrowed rifle to India’s Asian Games shooting squad
As of 10 August 2026, Vidarsa K Vinod has been named in India’s shooting contingent for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and will compete in the 10m Air Rifle and 50m Rifle 3 Positions events.
Vidarsa first handled a rifle with the National Cadet Corps in 2018 in Kozhikode, Kerala, and initially saw the sport as a way to try something new and possibly secure a government job. Born to a middle-class family—her father a contractor and her mother a homemaker—she rose through local ranks despite training with borrowed equipment and becoming the aggregate champion at the Kerala State Championship. “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 results improved, the financial burden increased: competition rifles, ammunition and travel for selection trials strained family resources. “Shooting is a beautiful sport, but it’s also expensive. There were times when my parents couldn’t afford to travel with me to competitions, so I started travelling alone to reduce the financial burden. “Eventually, in 2021, my family even took a loan so I could buy my first rifle. Looking back, that was one of the biggest investments they made—not just in equipment, but in my dream,” Vidarsa said.
The COVID-19 lockdown interrupted her access to equipment because she had been using a rifle owned by her association, halting her shooting for almost a year; she maintained physical preparation during that period. “I couldn’t 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 she met fellow rifle shooter Manu S Ravi, who became her friend, supporter and later husband; Manu, now a shooting coach in Kerala, prompted a pivotal question. Vidarsa recalled, “He simply asked me, ‘Why don’t you own a rifle?’ At first, I laughed because buying one wasn’t financially possible for us. But he made me realise that if I truly believed in my dream, I had to take that step. That conversation gave me the courage to speak to my parents, and together we decided to invest in my future.”
Under coach Manoj Kumar and with guidance from her husband, Vidarsa relocated to New Delhi to train at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range to seek stronger competition and coaching. Adapting to life alone in a new city presented practical challenges—handling meals, household tasks and daily practice without fluency in Hindi—while her husband returned to Kerala for a coaching role. “Living alone in Delhi wasn’t 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.”
Early 2024 brought a low point when she nearly quit amid financial strain and repeated near misses. “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.” Acceptance into the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence later in 2024 provided access to training, accommodation, nutrition and ammunition. “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, and her form followed: she won her maiden international medal at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championship before earning Asian Games selection.
Vidarsa describes her competitive focus as internal and has spoken about the selection system she has experienced. “I don’t 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’s selection environment: “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,” Vidarsa stated. “What I also value is that athletes have an open platform to share their concerns. Even the NRAI President, Mr. 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,” she added.
Her progress has influenced family choices: her younger brother, previously preparing for civil services and an MBA, has taken up shooting and is training as a pistol shooter after encouragement from Vidarsa. She has set clear training habits and goals as she prepares for her first Asian Games. “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.”
Vidarsa will represent India in the 10m Air Rifle and the 50m Rifle 3 Positions events at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.