'Pressure released': Elavenil reveals what went wrong as late lapse costs her gold
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan secured a silver medal at the Asian Games after losing a lead in the final stages of the 10m air rifle event. She attributed the loss to a lapse in focus and expressed a commitment to improving her performance under pressure.
Why it matters
It provides insight into the psychological challenges faced by elite athletes during high-stakes international competitions.
NEW DELHI: Elavenil Valarivan walked away from the Asian Games shooting range with two silver medals on Sunday, but there was also a nagging sense of what might have been after the Indian shooter let a commanding lead slip away in the final stages of the women’s 10m air rifle individual event.The 27-year-old had looked firmly on course for gold after building a lead of nearly 1.5 points, but three loose shots towards the end changed the complexion of the final. Japan’s Taichi Hinata eventually held her nerve to win gold with an Asian Games record 253.0, while Elavenil settled for silver with 252.4. South Korea’s Ban Hyojin took bronze with 230.4.“I did get a bit relaxed. I think I really need to work on my finals some more,” Elavenil said after the final.“I knew that I was in the top three.
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