India’s campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 sparked into life on Sunday, and it began at the shooting range.
In the women’s 10m air rifle team event, Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Uttam Maskar and Vidarsa K. Vinod stitched together a combined total of 1898.0 points, a steady, precise effort that carried them to the silver medal behind a dominant China. The trio kept their nerve through the qualification series, stringing together enough high 10s to ensure India’s first podium of these Games.
Elavenil wasn’t done. Having anchored the team performance, she stepped back onto the line for the individual final and produced another composed display, finishing second to secure the individual silver. One day, two medals. Her effort instantly doubled India’s tally and set the tone for the shooting contingent.
Away from the range, India’s mixed martial arts squad delivered its own breakthrough. Suchika Tairyal advanced to the semifinals in the women’s traditional 60kg category, a run that guarantees at least a bronze medal under the tournament format. Whether that turns into something more will be decided in the cage, but India’s medal count already has another assured addition.
Host nation Japan claimed the first gold medal of the Games, with Takumi Hojo winning the men’s triathlon on Sunday, stamping an early mark on home soil.
By mid-afternoon in Aichi-Nagoya, India’s medal chart finally had colour on it. The question now is how quickly that early glint of silver and bronze can turn into a sustained surge.
