Asian Games 2026: Elavenil’s Double Silver, Mandhana’s Record Rush

Two silvers for Elavenil Valarivan. A place at the top of the run charts for Smriti Mandhana. Nineteen unanswered goals from the women’s hockey team.

India’s Sunday at the Asian Games 2026 gathered momentum across the shooting range, cricket ground and hockey pitch. The women’s 10m air rifle team opened the country’s medal account, Elavenil returned for an individual silver, and Mandhana overtook Suzie Bates during India’s cricket semi-final against Bangladesh.

There was progress elsewhere too, with Suchika Tariyal assuring India a medal in mixed martial arts and the women’s table tennis team beginning with a clean sweep.

Elavenil’s Double Shift, Double Silver

Elavenil Valarivan spent much of the women’s 10m air rifle final setting the pace. Japan’s Hinata Taichi caught her late to take gold, leaving the Indian with her second silver of the day. South Korea’s Ban Hyojin claimed bronze.

Elavenil began with 53.1 in the opening series and led after 10 shots with 106.0. She remained ahead through the elimination rounds, reaching 148.4 after 14 shots.

With 20 shots completed, her score of 211.1 kept her narrowly in front of Hinata’s 210.8. Two shots later, the positions had reversed: Hinata led on 232.2, with Elavenil at 231.9.

The Japanese shooter held on for gold. Elavenil’s silver followed the team medal she had won alongside Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod earlier in the day.

Sonam, the second Indian in the individual final, finished sixth.

Three Shooters, India’s First Medal

India’s first confirmed medal arrived through the women’s 10m air rifle team, whose combined score of 1,898.0 secured silver.

China won gold with a world-record 1,904.2, while host Japan finished third on 1,897.1. India’s margin over Japan was just 0.9 points.

Sonam led the Indian scoring with 634.1. Elavenil contributed 633.5 and Vidarsa added 630.4.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the trio, describing their achievement as India’s first medal at the Games.

“Wishing our champions and the entire Indian contingent many more moments of glory,” he wrote on X.

Both Sonam and Elavenil qualified for the individual final, where Elavenil went on to add another silver.

Mandhana Hits the Top

Smriti Mandhana’s innings lasted 19 balls. It was enough to rewrite the women’s T20I batting record.

The Indian opener struck 37 against Bangladesh in the semi-final at Korogi Sports Park, taking her career tally to 4,765 runs and overtaking Suzie Bates’ 4,758.

Five fours and two sixes powered Mandhana’s innings. She also shared a 72-run opening stand with Shafali Verma as India pursued a place in the gold-medal match.

Bates, whose tally came across 186 matches, moved to second on the all-time list. Harmanpreet Kaur was third with 4,287 runs, followed by Chamari Athapaththu on 4,282 and Sophie Devine on 3,817.

Sri Lanka had already booked their place in the final by defeating Pakistan by eight wickets. The India–Bangladesh result was awaited at the time of the report.

Suchika Secures a Podium Place

Before India’s shooters delivered the first confirmed medal, Suchika Tariyal had ensured the country would have a podium finish in mixed martial arts.

She defeated Mongolia’s Altanchimeg Baigalmaa in the women’s Traditional MMA 60kg quarter-final to advance to the last four.

With both losing semi-finalists awarded bronze, the victory assured Suchika a medal. Her final medal colour remained to be decided.

Hockey’s 19-Goal Statement, Table Tennis’ Clean Sweep

The Indian women’s hockey team began its campaign with a 19-0 rout of Uzbekistan, delivering an emphatic opening result.

The women’s table tennis team also started strongly, beating Indonesia 3-0 in their Group F encounter.

Across disciplines, India’s early results brought a mix of medals, assured podium finishes and winning starts. At the shooting range, Elavenil supplied the morning’s standout return: two events, two silvers.

With inputs from ANI