Sonowal hails India's silver in Women's 50m Rifle 3P Team
Synopsis
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has congratulated shooters Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa Vinod Kochalumkal and Ashi Chouksey after the trio won silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event at the Asian Games 2026, calling the nation 'immensely proud' of their marksmanship.
Key Takeaways
Tilottama Sen , Vidarsa Vinod Kochalumkal , and Ashi Chouksey won silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event at the 2026 Asian Games .
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal publicly congratulated the trio on September 26, 2026 via X.
The 50m Rifle 3 Positions format combines prone, standing, and kneeling disciplines — among the most technically demanding in the sport.
Indian ministers across portfolios routinely celebrate national sporting successes on social media as part of wider sports promotion efforts.
The silver adds to India's medal tally at the ongoing Asian Games, with the shooting contingent remaining a key source of podium finishes.
Three Indian markswomen turned the firing line into a celebration on Saturday, September 26, 2026, as Tilottama Sen, Vidarsa Vinod Kochalumkal, and Ashi Chouksey clinched silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event at the Asian Games, drawing a proud salute from Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
Sonowal took to X to congratulate the trio, calling them a 'stellar trio' and declaring that 'the nation is immensely proud of your outstanding marksmanship.' The post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianGames2026, reflects the broad chorus of ministerial support that routinely amplifies Indian sporting milestones on the national stage.
Three positions, one podium finish
The 50m Rifle 3 Positions event — combining prone, standing, and kneeling disciplines — is among the most technically demanding in competitive shooting. Earning a podium in the team format requires not just individual precision but seamless collective consistency across all three stances. The silver medal by Sen, Kochalumkal, and Chouksey underlines the depth India's shooting pipeline has been quietly building.Shooting's rising place in India's Asian Games story
Indian shooting has been a consistent medal contributor at the Asian Games, with the sport producing some of the country's most decorated international competitors. Government recognition — whether through formal awards or swift social-media acknowledgement — has become a visible part of how India's establishment celebrates its athletes. Sonowal's post is one snapshot of that wider pattern, keeping the spotlight trained on the shooting contingent as the broader medal tally continues to develop at the ongoing multi-sport event. With the rifle team already on the podium, all eyes turn to what the Indian shooting squad can add before the Games close — because silver, in this squad's hands, looks like just the opening act.Point of View
Amplified from ministries far beyond sports or youth affairs. The 50m Rifle 3 Positions silver reinforces a broader pattern: Indian shooting has matured from a niche pursuit to a reliable Asian Games medal factory. Government visibility around these moments also feeds a longer arc — building public appetite for shooting as a mainstream sport ahead of future Olympic cycles. The consistency of ministerial recognition, in turn, creates soft pressure on the sports ecosystem to keep investing in the pipeline that produced Sen, Kochalumkal and Chouksey.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event at Asian Games 2026?
Tilottama Sen , Vidarsa Vinod Kochalumkal , and Ashi Chouksey won silver in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions Team event at the 2026 Asian Games .
What is the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event?
The Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions event is a competitive shooting discipline that requires athletes to fire from three stances — prone, standing, and kneeling — over a distance of 50 metres, making it one of the most technically demanding events in the sport.
What did Sarbananda Sonowal say about India's shooting silver?
Sonowal called the trio a 'stellar trio' and said 'the nation is immensely proud of your outstanding marksmanship' in his post on X on September 26, 2026 .
Why do Indian ministers congratulate athletes on social media?
Indian ministers across portfolios routinely post congratulatory messages following national team successes as part of broader efforts to highlight athlete achievements, promote sports culture, and keep public attention on India's international performances.
How has Indian shooting performed at the Asian Games historically?
Indian shooting has been a consistent medal contributor at the Asian Games, with the sport producing some of the country's most decorated international competitors across multiple editions of the Games.
