Asian Games 2026: India's women's 10m air rifle team wins silver, opens medal tally
Synopsis
India's shooters fired the first salvo at Aichi Nagoya — Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, and Vidarsa K Vinod's combined score of 1898.0 clinched silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event, opening India's Asian Games 2026 medal account. President Murmu, Home Minister Shah, and Union Minister Rijiju all hailed the achievement within hours of the result.
Key Takeaways
Elavenil Valarivan , Sonam Uttam Maskar , and Vidarsa K Vinod won the women's 10m air rifle team silver at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026 .
India's combined qualifying score was 1898.0 , securing second place on the podium.
Sonam Uttam Maskar led the team with an individual score of 634.1 , finishing third overall among qualifiers.
China took gold with 1904.2 ; host nation Japan claimed bronze with 1897.1 .
President Droupadi Murmu , Home Minister Amit Shah , and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju all congratulated the team on social media platform X.
This silver medal opened India's medal account at the 2026 Asian Games .
India's women's 10m air rifle team — comprising Elavenil Valarivan, Vidarsa K Vinod, and Sonam Uttam Maskar — claimed a silver medal at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on 20 September, opening the country's medal account at the Games with a combined qualifying score of 1898.0. President Droupadi Murmu led the congratulations, hailing the trio's performance as a source of national pride.
How the Silver Was Won
Sonam Uttam Maskar led India's qualifying effort with a standout score of 634.1, finishing third among all qualifiers. Elavenil Valarivan contributed 633.5 to place seventh, while Vidarsa K Vinod added 630.4 to finish 12th individually — their combined aggregate of 1898.0 was enough to secure second place on the podium.
China claimed the team gold with a total of 1904.2, led by Wang Zifei (636.8), Han Jiayu (633.8), and Du Yuchen (633.6). Host nation Japan took the team bronze with an aggregate of 1897.1 — just 0.9 points behind India's silver-winning total, underlining how fine the margins were.
President Murmu and Government React
President Droupadi Murmu posted on X: 'Heartiest congratulations to Elavenil Valarivan, Vidarsa K Vinod and Sonam Uttam Maskar on winning the silver medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Team event at the Asian Games 2026. Your commendable achievement has opened India's medal account at the Games and brings immense pride to the nation. My best wishes for your continued success.'
Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X, writing: 'India shoots open its Asian Games medal trail by winning a silver. Kudos to Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa K Vinod on winning the silver medal in Shooting 10 M Rifle Women (Team). Best wishes for future competitions.'
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called it a 'fantastic start' to India's medal campaign, adding: 'India's first medal at the #AsianGames2026! Many congratulations to Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar & Vidarsa K Vinod on clinching Silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Team event. Wishing our champions & the entire contingent many more moments of glory!'
India's Shooting Pedigree at Asian Games
Indian shooting has historically been one of the country's most reliable medal-winning disciplines at the Asian Games. The women's air rifle team event has been a consistent source of podium finishes, and this silver at Aichi Nagoya continues that tradition. Notably, the medal was decided purely by aggregate qualification scores — a format that rewards consistency across all three team members rather than a single standout performance.
What's Next for Team India
With the medal tally now open, India will look to build momentum across shooting, athletics, wrestling, and other disciplines over the coming days. The shooting contingent, in particular, is expected to be among the stronger medal prospects, with several individual events still to follow at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026.
Point of View
With the gap between Sonam's 634.1 and Vidarsa's 630.4 reflecting room for improvement at the individual level. As individual events approach, the pressure will shift from team consistency to head-to-head elimination — a format that has historically been less kind to India's shooters. The silver is a strong opening, but the real medal-count test lies ahead.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Indian shooters won the women's 10m air rifle team silver at the 2026 Asian Games?
The silver medal was won by Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar, and Vidarsa K Vinod, who together posted a combined qualifying score of 1898.0 at the Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on 20 September.
How was the women's 10m air rifle team medal decided at Asian Games 2026?
The team medal was decided by aggregate qualification scores. India's total of 1898.0 placed them second, behind China's gold-winning 1904.2 and ahead of Japan's bronze-winning 1897.1.
Who led India's qualifying effort in the women's air rifle team event?
Sonam Uttam Maskar led India's effort with a score of 634.1, finishing third overall among all individual qualifiers. Elavenil Valarivan scored 633.5 (7th) and Vidarsa K Vinod added 630.4 (12th).
How did President Murmu and the government react to the silver medal?
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated the trio on X, calling it a 'commendable achievement' that opened India's medal account. Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also posted congratulations on X, with Rijiju describing it as a 'fantastic start' to India's medal campaign.
Which country won gold in the women's 10m air rifle team event at Asian Games 2026?
China won the gold medal with a combined score of 1904.2, led by Wang Zifei (636.8), Han Jiayu (633.8), and Du Yuchen (633.6). Japan claimed the bronze with 1897.1.
