From NCC shooting to Asian Games, Vidarsa overcomes financial hurdles

Asian Games-bound rifle shooter Vidarsa K Vinod has turned setbacks and self-doubt into motivation, transforming an NCC introduction to shooting in 2018 into a place in Indian squad for Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with her sights set on becoming the world No. 1. The 27-year-old from Kozhikode, initially picked up a rifle through the NCC simply to experience the sport and perhaps secure a government job, but eight years later she is headed to the Asian Games, where she will compete in the women’s 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3-positions events, targeting her first individual international medal.

“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,” said Vidarsa.

Born into a family where her father works as a contractor and her mother is a homemaker, Vidarsa often found her dream of competing at the highest level difficult to pursue due to financial constraints. “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.