The Ahmedabad girl's transition from junior to senior level has been without hiccups, something that Narang saw coming.
Gagan Narang's face was beaming that little bit extra as he was walking towards President Ram Nath Kovind to receive the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday.
And why not. On a day the 2012 Olympics medallist was to be honoured for his services in identifying and churning out top-class shooters from the grassroots through the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation, his prodigy, the 20-year-old Elavenil Valarivan, had won her first gold medal in the 10m air rifle event at the senior ISSF World Cup in Rio. She became only the third Indian shooter after Apurvi Chandela and Anjali Bhagwat to bag a World Cup yellow metal in the event.
If timing is the essence of any sport, this was as good as it gets.
"It seems the universe conspired to sync the timing of Elavenil's gold and the foundation getting the Khel Protsahan Puraskar," Narang told DNA.
"If I say I am happy, it would be underestimating all our emotions at this moment. There is a sense of vindication, at the same time it is humbling. The award tells us that our vision was right and we just need to build on it," the 36-year-old added.
In many ways, Elavenil epitomises what Narang has set out to do: produce world-beating shooters from the country.
Elavenil was part of the Sanskardham School DLSS in Ahmedabad, a centre run by the Sports Authority of Gujarat in collaboration with Narang's foundation. Having picked up a gun for the first time at the age of 14, Elavenil's talent was quickly spotted and she was drafted into Narang's academy, Gun for Glory, in 2014.
Realising her immense talent and potential, Narang made her a part of his ambitious Project Leap, which identifies the best shooters from Gun for Glory aged between 10 and 20 years and provides them top-class training facilities and coaching.
"She showed her mettle at the talent hunt and was quickly absorbed in our flagship program, the Project Leap. She is from the first batch of Leap students, and the results of that are for all to see," Narang said.
They indeed were. Elavenil started pocketing 10 air rifle gold medals at the Junior World Cups, her first being in Sydney in 2018 and then in Suhl the same year, besides a silver in the 2018 Junior World Championships and another gold in the Junior World Cup in July this year.
Like with most junior shooters in India, Elavenil was soon promoted to the big stage, and after missing out on a medal in the ISSF World Cup in Munich in May, senior success arrived rather quickly at the doorsteps of Elavenil in Rio, days after turning 20 on August 2.
(Gagan Narang (C) receives Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar - ANI)
The Ahmedabad girl's transition from junior to senior level has been without hiccups, something that Narang saw coming.
"I am not surprised at all," Narang said. "Project Leap is designed to fast track the young shooters. Elavenil's transition has been very smooth. She has had big wins at the junior level. It was just about time that she emulated that feat at the senior level. If you saw the final, I don't think she had any nerves at all. She just knew that she had to follow the process."
There was neither any stage fright nor did Elavenil feel out of place in bettering her more seasoned compatriots in Anjum Moudgil and Chandela in the final. That, her mentor feels, is the one trait that stands out about the youngster.
"I think she has a very good head on her young shoulders. Also, she has a knack of knowing, understanding and listening well," Narang said.
Arriving with a bang is one thing, maintaining that noise is quite another. But, Narang is confident that Elavenil isn't one of those who will wander away from her task and goals in the years to come.
"I would say that this is just the beginning for Elavenil. She is a conscientious kid and will do well in the future as well," Narang said. "She knows what she needs to do. The coaching staff is always by her side. I do not like to give unwarranted advice. I shall only come into play whenever and in whatever form she needs me."
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