Nagoya, September 20 (Daily Kiran) : In Nagoya, on September 20, Ilavenil Valarivan made headlines by securing two silver medals for India at the 2026 Asian Games. She excelled in both the women’s 10-meter air rifle team event and the individual 10-meter air rifle competition.
Despite her impressive achievements, Ilavenil is already focused on her next challenge. She will compete in the mixed team 10-meter air rifle event. Reflecting on her recent performances, she expressed her intention to view the upcoming day as a fresh opportunity.
During a press interaction, Ilavenil remarked, “Today’s lessons will accompany me, but tomorrow is a new day; it presents a new challenge. We have pre-event training tomorrow, followed by the mixed doubles match the next day. My goal is to learn from today’s event and move forward.”
Ilavenil emphasized that she does not want to lose focus on the upcoming competition while celebrating her recent wins. She acknowledged that there will be plenty of time to celebrate upon returning home. “Of course, I will have ample time to celebrate once I return home,” she stated.
With another event on the horizon, Ilavenil shared an encouraging message for young shooters and athletes watching her performance. She urged them to trust in themselves, drawing from her own recent experiences. “When one starts to believe in themselves, nothing can hold them back, whether in sports, culture, education, or any field they choose,” she said.
Ilavenil was close to winning the gold medal in the individual final. She led for most of the competition but fell just short as Japan’s Hinata Taichi finished strong, setting an Asian Games record with a score of 253.0. Ilavenil scored 252.4.
Earlier, in the team event, the Indian trio scored a total of 1898.0, securing the silver medal. Sonam achieved an impressive score of 634.1 to place third in the qualifications, while Ilavenil followed closely with a score of 633.5, placing seventh. Vidarsha contributed with a score of 630.4, ensuring the team silver for India.
Expressing her joy, Sonam Maskar thanked the nation, her federation, and especially her parents for their unwavering support. “Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I also want to thank my family for their support during my interview,” she added.
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