From NCC Rifle Shooting to Asian Games Silver: Kerala’s Vidarsa Vinod Scripts History

What started as a casual decision to pick up a rifle through an NCC trial has now turned into a piece of Indian sporting history. Kerala’s Vidarsa K. Vinod helped India win silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event at the Asian Games 2026, becoming the first woman from the state to win an Asian Games shooting medal.

For the 27-year-old Kozhikode shooter, the achievement is the culmination of a journey filled with uncertainty, financial challenges, borrowed equipment and plenty of persistence. At the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Vidarsa joined Elavenil Valarivan and Sonam Uttam Maskar to produce a combined score of 1898.0 points, finishing behind China and ahead of hosts Japan.

It All Started With an NCC Trial

Vidarsa’s entry into shooting was hardly the beginning of a carefully planned sporting career. In 2018, while studying in Kozhikode, she turned up for an NCC shooting trial largely because she wanted to experience what it was like to hold a rifle.

That casual decision changed everything. Despite having no formal shooting training at the time, Vidarsa performed well enough to be selected for the NCC team. She subsequently moved into the Kerala state setup and gradually began taking the sport more seriously. She decided to pursue shooting professionally the following year, but the road ahead was far from straightforward.

A Dream That Nearly Ended

Shooting is an expensive sport, and Vidarsa initially did not even own her own rifle. She relied on equipment available through the NCC and borrowed weapons while continuing to improve.

The financial pressure became particularly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. With training disrupted and the cost of equipment weighing heavily, Vidarsa considered walking away from shooting altogether. She spent about a year away from the range, focusing instead on yoga and exercise at home.

Yet the break did not end her ambitions. Even without owning a personal rifle, Vidarsa had risen to the top of Kerala’s rankings. Eventually, after discussions with her parents, she took a loan to purchase her own equipment. That decision proved pivotal.

The Rifle That Changed Her Journey

Vidarsa’s rise also received an unexpected boost from coach Manoj Kumar, a high-performance coach with the Sports Authority of India.

Kumar noticed that Vidarsa struggled with heavier rifles and allowed her to test a lighter rifle that he had originally imported for his daughter. The rifle suited Vidarsa’s build and shooting style so well that Kumar eventually told her to keep it. It is the same rifle she took to the Asian Games 2026.

The story gives her Asian Games silver an added layer of meaning. The rifle that helped her reach the biggest stage was, quite literally, never intended to be hers.

Vidarsa Makes History in Asian Games Debut

At Aichi-Nagoya, Vidarsa produced a score of 630.4 points in the women's 10m air rifle qualification. Although she finished 12th individually and narrowly missed the individual final, her contribution proved crucial to India's team effort.

Elavenil scored 633.5 and Sonam 634.1 as the Indian trio combined for 1898.0. China topped the standings with a Games-record 1904.2, while Japan took bronze with 1897.1. The silver was also India’s first medal of the 2026 Asian Games, making the moment even more significant for the Indian contingent.

A Historic Medal for Kerala

For Kerala, Vidarsa’s achievement carries significance beyond the medal itself. She became the first woman from the state to win an Asian Games shooting medal, putting her name into a part of Kerala’s sporting history where the state has had comparatively little representation.

Vidarsa herself acknowledged the significance of the achievement, noting that there are relatively few people from Kerala involved in shooting and expressing happiness at becoming the first woman from the state to win an Asian Games shooting medal.

Her achievement has already triggered recognition back home, with Kerala Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh recommended that the state consider a government job for her under its sports quota provisions, subject to the applicable rules and verification.

The Biggest Test Is Still Ahead

The Asian Games silver may be the biggest achievement of Vidarsa’s career so far, but her campaign in Japan is not over. She is also competing in the women’s 50m rifle 3 Positions event, which she considers her main event, with the competition scheduled for September 26.

That gives Vidarsa another opportunity to build on a debut that has already exceeded expectations. From an NCC trial in Kozhikode to standing on an Asian Games podium, her journey is a reminder that sporting breakthroughs do not always begin with grand plans. Sometimes, they begin with curiosity, a borrowed rifle and the decision to keep going when walking away seems easier. For Vidarsa Vinod, that first rifle was only the beginning.