Two Silvers, One Star: Elavenil Valarivan Powers India’s Strong Start in Aichi-Nagoya
Xtratime Webdesk: India wasted no time as they picked up two silver medals on the 1st day of the Asian Games itself, with shooter Elavenil Valarivan at the center of both these medals.
The Indian shooting contingent those medals at Aichi-Nagoya on Sunday, with Valarivan playing a starring role. The two-time Olympian helped India finish second in the women’s 10m air rifle team event before returning to claim an individual silver later in the day.
Elavenil, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod combined for a score of 1898.0 to secure India’s first medal of the Asian Games. China took gold with a world-record 1904.2, while hosts Japan finished with bronze at 1897.1. Elavenil contributed 633.5 to India’s team total, with Sonam scoring 634.1 and Vidarsa adding 630.4.
Elavenil was not done, yet , in securing another medal for India. In the individual final, the Indian shooter produced another impressive performance, finishing with 252.4 points. She led for much of the elimination phase and was still ahead after 20 shots, holding a narrow 211.1-210.8 advantage over Japan’s Hinata Taichi.
Hinata eventually turned the contest around and secured gold with an Asian Games record 253.0. Olympic champion Ban Hyo-jin of the Republic of Korea took bronze with 230.4, while Sonam finished sixth.
Despite missing out on gold, Elavenil’s performance marked an important milestone. It was her first individual Asian Games medal, having competed at Jakarta 2018 as a teenager without reaching the 10m air rifle final.
The 26-year-old has already established herself among Asia’s leading shooters. She holds the Asian record of 253.6, set at the 2025 Asian Championships in Shymkent, and successfully defended her continental title at the 2026 Asian Championships in New Delhi.
For India, the opening day has offered an early glimpse of what the shooting contingent can deliver. Two medals, including an individual silver from Elavenil, have sent a clear message that India’s shooters are ready to compete at the highest level in Aichi.
