Elavenil Valarivan Shoots India to Double Silver, Kicking Off Asian Games 2026 Medal Rush

Indian ace Elavenil Valarivan has fired a spectacular start for the nation at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, clinching two silver medals in the fiercely competitive women's 10m air rifle event on the opening day of medal competition. Valarivan secured an individual silver after a nail-biting final, just 0.6 points shy of gold, and also powered the Indian trio, alongside Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod, to a team silver, marking India's first medals of the Games. The 27-year-old Olympian's double podium finish is a massive boost for India's shooting contingent, which arrived in Japan with high expectations after a record 22-medal haul at the previous Hangzhou Asian Games. Valarivan, a 2025 World Championship bronze medallist and Asian record holder, showed immense composure, leading for much of the individual final before Japan's Hinata Taichi edged her out. This performance underscores India's growing prowess in global shooting, even as the People's Republic of China set a new world record en route to team gold. With these two silvers, India has decisively opened its medal account, setting an encouraging tone for the rest of the Asian Games, which run until October 1. While Valarivan reflected on minor adjustments that could have brought gold, her dual medals have already sparked national celebrations, drawing congratulations from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All eyes will now be on the rest of the Indian shooters, including Sonam Maskar in future events, as well as debutants like Vidarsa Vinod, to build on this powerful beginning across various disciplines.