Babuta, Valarivan Win Gold at Asian Championship
Indian pair clinches 10m air rifle mixed team title.
India’s shooting stars Arjun Babuta and Elavenil Valarivan delivered a spectacular performance to win the gold medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on Saturday. The dynamic duo outgunned China’s Dingke Lu and Xinlu Peng with a commanding 17-11 score, overcoming an early deficit to claim the top spot on the podium.
Despite a shaky start with scores of 9.5 and 10.1, Babuta and Valarivan showcased resilience and precision, mounting a thrilling comeback in the later rounds. Their synergy and focus turned the tide against the Chinese pair, who led initially but couldn’t match India’s late surge. This victory marked Valarivan’s second gold of the championship, following her triumph in the women’s 10m air rifle event, where she scored 253.6 to edge out China’s Xinlu Peng.
The win adds to India’s impressive haul at the 2025 Asian Shooting Championship, with Babuta also contributing to the men’s 10m air rifle team gold alongside Rudrankksh Patil and Kiran Jadhav, who scored a combined 1892.5 points to secure victory. India’s 164-member contingent, the largest at the event, has been a dominant force, with Valarivan’s individual and team successes underscoring her status as a global shooting powerhouse.
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The championship, hosted at the Shymkent Shooting Plaza, saw 734 shooters from 28 countries compete. India’s strong showing, including additional medals like Anantjeet Singh Naruka’s men’s skeet gold and Manu Bhaker’s 10m air pistol bronze, positions the nation at the forefront of the continental rankings, with junior shooters also setting records. As the event continues until August 30, India’s shooters are poised to add more glory to their campaign.
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