India began their Asian Games 2026 campaign on September 20 on a strong note. This was a massive upgrade from her performance in the Paris Olympics 2024, where she failed to qualify for the finals of both her events. They assured two medals in MMA and women’s cricket. However, the biggest moment came in shooting, as India secured two silver medals. Elavenil Valarivan was the star of the show as she was part of both these medal wins – clinching silvers in the women’s 10m air rifle individual and team events.
Responding to a question from HT Digital, Elavenil Valarivan shed light on the psychological overhaul that bridged the gap between the disappointment in Paris and her resurgence on the Asian Games podium in Aichi-Nagoya. Now, she has changed her approach to focus on enjoying the game and staying in the present.
She said that the intense stress of the Olympics made her care too much about the final score.
So I think that has been one of the major shifts in my approach towards a competition or towards a training day,” the Asian Games 2026 double silver medallist said. The pair scored a combined 626.3 to finish 12th in the qualifiers. “I think Paris it was more about me getting, being the best of myself, winning the day and, you know, competing. But now it is more about just being happy that I get to play the sport, enjoying every single moment that I get on lane, competing with my co-shooters. So I think it is more about being in the present moment and enjoying the sport and loving the sport, and that it’s giving me so many opportunities to be a part of the Indian team and represent the country. Her mixed team event qualifiers with Sandeep Singh ended even more poorly. This fell way behind the top-four cut-off required to qualify for the finals.
In the women’s 10m air rifle individual qualifiers, she scored 630.7 to finish 10th. She thus narrowly missed out on a top-8 spot, which was the cut-off to qualify for the finals. Earlier reporting noted: India schedule at Asian Games 2026 Day 3: Shooters eye more medals, Suchika Tariyal continues gold push on September 21 India started their Asian Games 2026 campaign on a positive note on September 20. Earlier reporting noted: On Day 3 of the Asian Games 2026, i.e September 21 (Monday), India will be looking for further medals in shooting with Parth Rakesh Mane, Himanshu Dhillon, Rudranksh Balasaheb Patil, all gunning for the men’s 10m air rifle individual and team events.
On its very first day, the country won two silver medals, both in shooting. Valarivan then won her second silver in the women’s 25m rifle individual event. Elavenil Valarivan had a campaign to forget at the Paris Olympics. She missed out on qualifying for the final of both her events. The women’s 25m air rifle team of Elavenil Valarivan , Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod was the first to open the Indian account. On the other hand, two more medals were assured. MMA star Suchika Tariyal qualified for the semi-final and assured India of at least a bronze in the women’s 60kg traditional event. On the other hand, the Indian women’s cricket team qualified for the final and ensured another silver. Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Bhavtegh Singh Gill and Mairaj Ahmad will be gunning for medals in men’s skeet individual and team events. On the other hand, the women’s skeet individual and team events will also feature medal hopefuls Parinaaz Dhaliwal, Raiza Dhillon and Maheshwari Chauhan.
Earlier reporting noted: The boxing contingent will also begin their campaign, while India and Pakistan will come face to face for the first time in these Games in the women’s team table tennis event.
