Indian Shooters Win Silver at 2026 Asian Games

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod for winning silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Team event at the 2026 Asian Games. This achievement marks India's first medal at the games, with the team scoring 1898.0 points. The event saw China take gold with a world record score, while Japan secured bronze. Additionally, Elavenil and Sonam have advanced to the individual finals, providing another opportunity for India to increase its medal tally. Read on for more details about their remarkable performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 20, 2026, 12:06 IST

Celebrating India's First Medal at the Asian Games

On Sunday, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised Indian shooters Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Vinod for clinching a silver medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Team event. This achievement marks India's inaugural medal at the 2026 Asian Games, with the trio scoring a total of 1898.0 points. They finished second to China, which set a new world record with 1904.2 points, while Japan secured the bronze with 1897.1 points.

"India has won its first medal at the #AsianGames2026! Congratulations to Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa K Vinod for their silver in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Team event. I wish our champions and the entire Indian contingent many more glorious moments," Mandaviya shared in a post on X.

First Medal Confirmed at Aichi-Nagoya Games

This result signifies India's first confirmed medal at the 20th Asian Games taking place in Aichi-Nagoya. Earlier, MMA fighter Suchika Tariyal had already secured a medal by reaching the semifinals in the women's Traditional MMA 60kg category, where both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals.

Individual Scores and Future Opportunities

In the team event, Sonam was the highest scorer for India with 634.1 points, followed closely by Elavenil with 633.5 points and Vidarsa with 630.4 points, bringing the team's total to 1898.0 points. Additionally, Elavenil and Sonam have advanced to the individual finals, placing them among the top eight competitors in the women's 10m air rifle event. They will have another chance to contribute to India's medal tally in the individual final scheduled for later on Sunday.