India opened its medal account at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, September 20, with a silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event. Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa K Vinod combined for 1,898 points, finishing behind China’s 1,904.2, which was reported as a world-record score, while Japan took bronze with 1,897.1.
The narrow 0.9-point gap over Japan underlined the intensity of the contest. Sonam and Elavenil also qualified for the individual 10m air rifle final after finishing third and seventh respectively, while Vidarsa narrowly missed the individual final.
For India, the medal provides an early boost to a shooting contingent that won a record 22 medals at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou. For the three shooters, meanwhile, the result combines team success with another individual opportunity later on Sunday. Vidarsa, making her Asian Games debut, said she was happy with her performance and had given her best.
A Narrow Podium Battle
The Indian trio produced a combined 1,898.0 points, with Sonam contributing 634.1, Elavenil 633.5 and Vidarsa 630.4. China finished first with 1,904.2, while Japan was only 0.9 points behind India at 1,897.1. The team standings were calculated from the qualification scores, making every shot significant in determining the podium.
Sonam’s performance also placed her third in the individual qualification, while Elavenil’s 633.5 put her seventh, sending both into the eight-shooter final. Vidarsa, despite contributing to India’s medal-winning total, missed the individual final after finishing outside the top eight.
The result was particularly significant for Sonam, who is competing at her first Asian Games after emerging as one of India’s promising rifle shooters. Her rise has followed years of training and family support; she had previously spoken about how her father sold property during the pandemic to help fund the equipment needed for her shooting career.
Ahead of the Games, Sonam had also credited her family, coaches, the National Rifle Association of India, Sports Authority of India, Railways and other supporters for helping her progress.
Experience Meets New Ambition
Elavenil, a former world No. 1 and Olympian, brought considerable international experience to a team that also featured two younger shooters. Her qualification score of 633.5 secured seventh place and a place in the individual final.
Sonam’s qualification performance continued a strong run of form: at the ISSF World Cup in Hangzhou in July, she finished fifth in the women’s 10m air rifle individual event with 634.3 in qualification, while Elavenil finished sixth with 632.8.
Sonam and Elavenil had also been part of India’s strong showing at that World Cup, where Sonam won bronze alongside Himanshu Dhillon in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. Their Asian Games qualification success therefore comes against the backdrop of sustained international competition rather than as an isolated result.
India had entered the Games with a 30-member shooting squad spanning rifle, pistol and shotgun events. The sport had been one of the country’s biggest medal contributors at Hangzhou, where Indian shooters won 22 medals seven gold, nine silver and six bronze.
The build-up to Aichi-Nagoya also saw the rifle team use more detailed physiological monitoring, including heart-rate and body-temperature measurements, as part of efforts to help shooters manage pressure and maintain stability before firing.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
India’s opening shooting medal is more than a number on the Asian Games table; it is a reminder of what sustained preparation, teamwork and trust can produce under intense pressure. Elavenil’s experience, Sonam’s continuing rise and Vidarsa’s contribution show three different stages of an athlete’s journey coming together for one result.
Vidarsa’s account of simply focusing on her preparation and giving her best is particularly relevant in a sport where composure can matter as much as technical ability. At the same time, the close scores between India, China and Japan show how small margins separate the leading teams at this level.
Also read: US Issues Fresh Alert As Middle East Tensions Intensify
