Elavenil Valarivan Wins Two Silver Medals at Asian Games 2026
Indian shooter Elavenil Valarivan has made a strong start to her Asian Games 2026 campaign, winning two silver medals in the women’s 10m air rifle events in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The two-time Olympian first helped India win silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event, before securing another silver in the individual final later in the day.
It was a memorable day for Elavenil and Indian shooting, with the athlete demonstrating the focus, consistency and composure required at the highest level of competitive shooting.
Elavenil Valarivan Wins Individual Silver
In the women’s 10m air rifle individual final, Elavenil Valarivan finished with a score of 252.4, just 0.6 points behind Japan’s Hinata Taichi.
Hinata won the gold medal with an Asian Games record score of 253.0, while Republic of Korea’s Olympic champion Ban Hyo-jin finished with the bronze medal.
Elavenil remained in medal contention throughout the final and was leading after 20 shots with a score of 211.1. She entered the final two shots just 0.3 points ahead of Hinata.
The Japanese shooter eventually moved ahead, and despite Elavenil producing scores of 10.4 and 10.1 with her final two shots, Hinata held her advantage to secure the gold medal.
For Elavenil, the silver medal marked her first individual Asian Games medal, adding another important achievement to her international shooting career.
India Wins Silver in the 10m Air Rifle Team Event
Earlier in the day, Elavenil was part of the Indian team that won silver in the women's 10m air rifle team event.
Alongside Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod, Elavenil helped India finish with a combined score of 1898.0.
China won the team gold with a world record score of 1904.2, while hosts Japan secured bronze with 1897.1.
Elavenil contributed 633.5 points to India's total, while Sonam Maskar scored 634.1 and Vidarsa Vinod added 630.4.
The team silver became India's first medal of the Asian Games 2026, giving the Indian shooting contingent an encouraging start to the competition.
A Major Milestone in Elavenil's Shooting Career
Elavenil Valarivan has already established herself as one of India's leading sport shooters.
She competed at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games as a teenager but did not progress to the women's 10m air rifle final. Her silver medal in Aichi therefore represents a significant milestone in her Asian Games journey.
Elavenil also holds the Asian record of 253.6, which she achieved while winning the Asian Championships in Shymkent. She successfully defended her continental title at the 2026 Asian Championships in New Delhi.
Her latest performance at the Asian Games adds another major achievement to an already impressive international career.
What Makes 10m Air Rifle Shooting So Demanding?
The 10m air rifle is a precision shooting discipline where athletes compete from a distance of 10 metres using an air rifle.
While the sport may appear physically still from the outside, competitive shooting requires a high level of physical and mental control.
Athletes need to maintain a stable shooting position while controlling their breathing, managing their heart rate and maintaining concentration for every shot.
Even a small movement can affect the position of the rifle and ultimately influence the score.
At an international competition such as the Asian Games, where medals can be decided by fractions of a point, consistency becomes extremely important.
The Role of Nutrition in Shooting Performance
Sports nutrition is often associated with high-intensity sports such as running, football or weightlifting. However, nutrition also plays an important role in precision sports such as shooting.
A shooter's performance depends heavily on concentration, alertness, stability and the ability to maintain focus over an extended competition period.
A balanced nutrition plan can help athletes meet their energy requirements while supporting training, recovery and overall performance.
Key areas can include:
Adequate protein to support muscle recovery
Carbohydrates to support energy requirements
Healthy fats as part of a balanced diet
Adequate hydration throughout training and competition
Essential vitamins and minerals
Proper meal timing around training and competition
For elite athletes, nutrition is not simply about eating more or eating less. It is about understanding the athlete's individual requirements and creating a strategy that supports their training and competition schedule.
Nutrition and Mental Focus in Sport
Precision sports require athletes to repeatedly perform highly controlled movements while staying focused under pressure.
Nutrition alone cannot determine sporting performance, but maintaining adequate energy and hydration can form an important part of an athlete's overall preparation.
For athletes competing at the highest level, performance is built through several factors working together, including training, recovery, sleep, mental preparation and nutrition.
This is particularly important during multi-day competitions such as the Asian Games, where athletes may have demanding schedules and limited recovery time between events.
Congratulations, Elavenil
The entire Qua team is proud to see Elavenil Valarivan achieve this remarkable double-silver performance at the Asian Games 2026.
It has been great working with you and being part of your journey. Watching your dedication, discipline and consistency translate into performances on the international stage is truly special.
Your first individual Asian Games medal, along with the team silver, is another milestone in an already inspiring sporting journey.
Congratulations, Elavenil Valarivan.
We wish you continued success in the competitions ahead and many more moments of pride for India.
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