Elavenil Valarivan Shines with Silver at Asian Games 2026

President and PM Praise Elavenil Valarivan's Achievement

On Sunday, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their congratulations to Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan for her remarkable silver medal win in the women's 10m air rifle individual event at the Asian Games 2026. They also recognized the efforts of Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa K Vinod, who contributed to the silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle team event.

"Heartfelt congratulations to Elavenil Valarivan for clinching the Silver Medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Individual event at the Asian Games 2026. Your exceptional performance has brought pride to our nation. I wish you continued success in your future endeavors," stated Rashtrapati Bhavan in a post on social media. The President had previously acknowledged the team’s silver medal achievement in shooting.

The Prime Minister also expressed his admiration for the shooters, saying, "Indian shooters continue to make us proud! Congratulations to Elavenil Valarivan for winning a Silver Medal in the 10m Air Rifle Women Individual event at the Asian Games. This marks her second medal of the day, making it even more significant. Best wishes for her future pursuits: PM," as noted in a post from the PMO.

"Dedication and teamwork yield remarkable results! I am proud of Sonam Uttam Maskar, Elavenil Valarivan, and Vidarsa K Vinod for securing the Silver Medal at the Asian Games 2026 in the 10m Air Rifle Women’s event. Their success will motivate many athletes in the future," the PMO added in another social media update.

Shooters Kickstart India's Medal Count

Elavenil secured the silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle individual final, finishing second to Japan's Hinata Taichi, while South Korea's Ban Hyojin took home the bronze.

Earlier, Elavenil, Sonam, and Vidarsa opened India's medal tally at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 by winning silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event.

India Excels in Various Sports

India showcased a strong performance across multiple sports at the Asian Games 2026. The women's cricket team advanced to the gold medal match after defeating Bangladesh in the semi-finals. The men's hockey team triumphed over Indonesia with a score of 13-1, while the women's hockey team dominated Uzbekistan with a 19-0 victory.

In table tennis, Indian teams achieved victories against Indonesia and Singapore, and the women's badminton team won 3-0 against Kazakhstan. Additionally, Suchika Tariyal earned a medal in MMA, Rishabh Das placed sixth in the men's 100m backstroke final, and Indian athletes participated in wushu, teqball, and swimming events.