Guwahati: India opened its medal account at the Asian Games 2026 with a silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle team event at Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery in Japan on Sunday.
The Indian trio of Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod combined for a total of 1,898 points to finish second in the competition. China won the gold with 1,904.2 points, while hosts Japan secured bronze with 1,897.1 points.
Sonam Maskar was India’s highest scorer with 634.1 points, followed by Elavenil Valarivan with 633.5 and Vidarsa Vinod with 630.4. Elavenil and Sonam also advanced to the individual final after finishing among the qualifiers.
The silver marks India’s first confirmed medal at the 2026 Asian Games and gives the country’s shooting contingent an early podium finish. The result also comes after Indian shooters won a record 22 medals at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Elavenil, who produced a score of 633.5, will now have another opportunity in the individual event, alongside Sonam, as India looks to add to its medal tally in shooting.