New Delhi, September 20: India began its shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on a high note on Sunday, with Elavenil Valarivan helping the country secure two silver medals in the women’s 10m air rifle competition. Elavenil first contributed to India’s silver in the team event before winning an individual silver later in the day.
The 2025 World Championship bronze medallist finished with 252.4 points, just 0.6 points behind Japan’s Hinata Taichi, who won gold with an Asian Games record 253.0. South Korea’s Ban Hyo-jin, the reigning world champion and Paris Olympics gold medallist, took bronze with 230.4 points.
Elavenil appeared on course for gold for much of the final. After the 17th shot, she held a 1.4-point lead over Ban, with Taichi in third. She was still 0.2 points ahead of the Japanese shooter after the 21st shot. However, Taichi moved ahead as the final stages intensified. With two shots remaining, Elavenil trailed by 0.3 points. She responded with a 10.4, but Taichi produced a 10.6 to extend her lead to 0.5.
Elavenil managed a 10.1 with her final shot, but Taichi held her nerve with a 10.2 to seal the gold and set a new Asian Games record. The silver marked Elavenil’s first individual Asian Games medal, after she competed at the 2018 Jakarta and 2022 Hangzhou editions without making the podium.
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