Kerala CM Celebrates Vidharsha K Vinod's Historic Silver Medal Win at Asian Games 2026

Kerala's Chief Minister VD Satheesan congratulated Vidharsha K Vinod for her remarkable achievement of winning a silver medal in the women's 10 m air rifle shooting event at the Asian Games 2026. This victory not only marks a historic moment for Vidharsha as the first Malayali to win a shooting medal at the Asian Games but also serves as a source of pride for the entire state. The Indian team, which included Elavenil Valarivan and Sonam Maskar, secured the silver medal with a total score of 1898.0 points, finishing behind China. The article highlights the significance of this achievement and the hopes for future successes.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 20, 2026, 13:03 IST

Kerala CM Congratulates Asian Games Silver Medalist

The Chief Minister of Kerala, VD Satheesan, recently spoke with Vidharsha K Vinod, who earned a silver medal in the women's 10 m air rifle shooting event at the Asian Games 2026. This achievement is a significant point of pride for the state. Vidharsha, alongside teammates Elavenil Valarivan and Sonam Maskar, secured India's inaugural medal at this year's Asian Games.

'A Remarkable Achievement for Kerala'

In a heartfelt phone call, Satheesan congratulated Vidharsha for her groundbreaking accomplishment as the first Malayali to win a shooting medal at the Asian Games. He expressed his hopes for her continued success, stating, "This historic achievement is a tremendous source of pride for all of Kerala. May Vidharsha achieve even greater victories in the future that bring honor to our state." #AsianGames

India's First Medal at the 20th Asian Games

The Indian shooting team scored a total of 1898.0 points, earning the silver medal, while China took gold with a world-record score of 1904.2 points. Japan secured the bronze with 1897.1 points. This marked India's first confirmed medal at the 20th Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya.

Additionally, MMA fighter Suchika Tariyal made history as the first Indian athlete to guarantee a medal by reaching the semifinals in the women's Traditional MMA 60kg category, where both semifinal losers receive bronze medals.

In the team event, Sonam was the highest scorer for India with 634.1 points, followed closely by Elavenil with 633.5 points, and Vidharsha with 630.4 points, bringing the team's total to 1898.0 points.