Asian Games 2026: Elavenil Valarivan Clinches Silver in Thrilling 10m Air Rifle Final
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Ace Indian marksman Elavenil Valarivan delivered a commanding performance on the firing lines of the Asian Games 2026 on Sunday, September 20, 2026, securing a hard-fought silver medal in the women's 10-meter air rifle individual event. The 26-year-old shooter remained in pole position for the top step of the podium across major stretches of the high-stakes final before China's Hinata Taichi produced a blistering late surge in the elimination stage to capture the gold medal. Finishing with a solid total score of 252.4, Elavenil’s podium finish marks India's sixth overall medal in this marquee shooting discipline and stands as only the second individual silver won by an Indian in the event, mirroring the achievement of her mentor Gagan Narang at the 2010 edition.
High-Voltage Final Showdown: Record-Breaking Finish by China's Hinata Taichi
The individual final proved to be a battle of nerves, with Elavenil asserting consistent command from the opening series and retaining a firm hold on the gold medal position through the 20th shot. The competition turned dramatically during the final four shots, where China's Hinata Taichi capitalized on minor score fluctuations to surge ahead with an aggregate of 253.0, setting a new Asian Games record and shattering the previous benchmark of 252.7. South Korea's Hyojin Ban claimed the bronze medal with a tally of 230.4, while fellow Indian finalist Sonam Maskar bowed out earlier in the elimination sequence, concluding her individual campaign in sixth place.
Double Medal Glory: Elavenil and Team India Secure Silver in 10m Team Championship
The individual silver medal capped an extraordinary, high-output day for Elavenil Valarivan, representing her second podium finish of the morning session in Japan. Earlier in the qualifying rounds, Elavenil teamed up with compatriots Sonam Maskar and Vidarsha Vinod to power India to a silver medal in the women’s 10-meter air rifle team event. The trio's combined qualifying display secured the team podium and propelled both Elavenil and Sonam into the eight-woman individual final, confirming India's standing as a dominant force on the continental rifle shooting circuit.
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