India shines again in Asian Games as Elavenil Valarivan wins silver in shooting

TOKYO: India has got another medal in the Asian Games. Elavenil Valarivan, a native of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, won the silver medal in the women’s 10m air rifle individual event. With this achievement, Elavenil also created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the 10m air rifle event at the Asian Games. She was leading until the final moments against Japan’s Hinata Taichi but eventually finished in second place.

Elavenil secured the silver medal with 252.4 points. Japan’s Hinata Taichi won the gold medal with 253.0 points, while South Korea’s Ban Hyojin claimed the bronze. India had earlier won silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event, where the team comprising Elavenil Valarivan, Kerala shooter Vidarsha K Vinod, and Sonam Maskar finished second.

With the silver medal, Vidarsha K Vinod of Thiruvambady in Kozhikode, scripted history by becoming the first Malayali shooter to win a medal at the Asian Games. Vidarsha expressed immense happiness at achieving this historic feat in her very first Asian Games appearance.

Vidarsha said winning the silver medal in the 10m air rifle event had given her great confidence for the upcoming competitions. Her main event, the 50m rifle three positions competition, is scheduled to be held on September 26, and she remains hopeful of delivering another strong performance.