India open Asian Games shooting campaign with silver in women's 10m air rifle

India opened their shooting campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle team event on Sunday, with Elavenil Valarivan, Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod combining for a second-place finish.The Indian trio accumulated 1898.0 points to take silver, finishing behind China, who claimed the gold with a world-record score of 1904.2 points. Hosts Japan secured the bronze after scoring 1897.1.The result marked India's first confirmed medal of the 20th Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya. MMA fighter Suchika Tariyal had earlier become the first Indian athlete to assure a medal after progressing to the semifinals of the women's Traditional MMA 60kg competition, where both losing semifinalists receive bronze.Sonam emerged as India's highest scorer in the team event, registering 634.1 points. Elavenil contributed 633.5, while Vidarsa finished with 630.4 as the Indian team crossed the 1898-point mark.There was further reason for India to celebrate as Elavenil and Sonam also secured places in the individual final. Their scores were enough to put both shooters among the eight finalists for the individual 10m air rifle competition.

The two Indians will now have another opportunity to add to the country's medal tally when they compete in the eight-woman individual final later on Sunday. Having already stood on the podium in the team event, Elavenil and Sonam will be aiming for another strong showing in the individual competition.

The silver also gives India's shooting contingent an encouraging beginning at the Games, particularly after the country's shooters enjoyed a highly successful campaign at the Hangzhou Asian Games.India's shooting team returned from Hangzhou with a record haul of 22 medals, comprising seven gold, nine silver and six bronze. The Aichi-Nagoya campaign has now begun with another silver, with the Indian shooters set for more medal opportunities in the days ahead.