India win silver in women's 10m air rifle at Asian Games 2026, Elavenil and Sonam reach individual final
Synopsis
India's women's 10m air rifle trio won silver at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi — but the real story is how coach Pooja Ghatkar's NRAI-backed simulation camps in Bhopal, complete with live crowds and blaring music, were designed to strip away final-day nerves. With Elavenil and Sonam now in the individual final, the experiment is about to face its biggest test.
Key Takeaways
India claimed silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi on Sunday .
Elavenil Valarivan , Sonam Maskar , and Vidarsa Kochalumkal combined for 1,897 points .
Both Elavenil and Sonam qualified for the individual final .
Coach Pooja Ghatkar revealed that NRAI organised two simulation camps in Bhopal , replicating final-day conditions with live audiences and music.
India bagged 22 medals in shooting at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023 — the most for them in any single sport at those Games.
India launched their shooting campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya with a silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle team event on Sunday at the Aichi Prefecture General Shooting Gallery. The trio of Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Kochalumkal combined for 1,897 points to clinch the podium finish, with Elavenil and Sonam also advancing to the individual final.
A Strong Start to India's Shooting Campaign
Shooting has historically been one of India's most productive sports at the Asiad. At the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, the Indian contingent bagged 22 medals in the sport — the most for any Indian team in a single discipline at those Games. The silver in Aichi continues that tradition, though coach Pooja Ghatkar signalled that the team had set its sights higher.
'Satisfied, not happy much because as the training was going on, we were expecting a very good performance. They performed well, but we expected more. But happy with the silver, we have Elavenil and Sonam in the individual finals; hope for more medals,' Ghatkar said.
The Simulation Training That Set the Stage
Ghatkar revealed that the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) had meticulously planned two training camps at Bhopal ahead of the Games, specifically designed to replicate the high-pressure environment of a shooting final. The setup included a live audience, students cheering and shouting, and music playing — all calibrated to simulate competitive final conditions.
'We had almost created an atmosphere like finals training. We had an audience, a live audience. We had students shouting and screaming during the finals. So, we had music playing around and all. So, they had a good practice for finals,' Ghatkar explained. She added that the simulation was designed to benefit both the air rifle men's and air rifle women's teams ahead of their respective finals in Aichi-Nagoya.
Profiles: Elavenil and Sonam's Road to the Final
Elavenil Valarivan is among India's most decorated rifle shooters — an Olympian and a two-time gold medallist at the ISSF World Cup, having won in the 2019 and 2023 editions. Sonam Maskar is a triple silver medallist at the ISSF World Cup Final, with titles in 2024. Ghatkar highlighted Sonam's consistency, noting her scores of 633 and 634, and her experience of competing in two finals — the Spain World Cup and the Hangzhou World Cup.
'Sonam has been shooting since juniors. She has shot many internationals in juniors and right now she is performing very well,' Ghatkar said, backing her charge to deliver in the individual final.
What to Watch in the Individual Finals
With both Elavenil and Sonam through to the individual final, India have a realistic chance of converting their team silver into individual gold. The simulation training in Bhopal was specifically designed for moments like this — loud arenas, crowd noise, and the psychological weight of a final. Whether the preparation translates into medals will determine the early tone of India's overall shooting campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.
Point of View
But the more significant disclosure is methodological: NRAI's decision to build crowd noise and live spectatorship into training camps reflects a belated but welcome acknowledgement that Indian shooters have historically underperformed in finals relative to qualification rounds. The Bhopal simulation model, if it delivers medals in the individual events, could become a template for pressure-sport preparation across disciplines — not just shooting. The real verdict comes in the individual final, where Elavenil and Sonam must convert consistent qualifying scores into podium performances under exactly the conditions they rehearsed.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did India perform in the women's 10m air rifle team event at the 2026 Asian Games?
India won the silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle team event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi on Sunday, with Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar, and Vidarsa Kochalumkal combining for 1,897 points.
Who is coach Pooja Ghatkar and what simulation training did she describe?
Pooja Ghatkar is the Indian women's 10m air rifle coach. She revealed that NRAI organised two camps in Bhopal before the 2026 Asian Games where a live audience, crowd noise, and music were used to replicate the pressure of a shooting final for both the men's and women's rifle teams.
Which Indian shooters qualified for the individual 10m air rifle final in Aichi?
Elavenil Valarivan and Sonam Maskar both qualified for the individual 10m air rifle final at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi after their performances in the team event.
What is Elavenil Valarivan's shooting record?
Elavenil Valarivan is an Olympian and a two-time ISSF World Cup gold medallist, having won in the 2019 and 2023 editions of the competition.
How many medals did India win in shooting at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023?
India bagged 22 medals in shooting at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, the most for the country in a single sport at those Games.
