Vidarsa K. Vinod wins silver to become Keralam’s first female shooter medallist at Asian Games
Vidarsa K. Vinod won a silver medal in the women's 10 metre air rifle team event at the 20th Asian Games in Japan on September 20, 2026, becoming the first woman shooter from Keralam to win a medal at the Games. The result came on her debut at the Asian Games; she is also entered in the women's 50m rifle 3 Positions event.
Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan congratulated Vinod via a video call, visuals of which were shared on his X account, and told her that everyone was "happy and proud" of her achievement. In a post accompanying the video he wrote: "We wish Vidarsa, who has made the nation proud through her hard work and determination, continued success in scaling new heights in the future. She is an asset for Keralam and the state will extend its full support and assistance to her," he said. State Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh said the government will take care of those who win medals for the nation in the Asian Games and intends to take steps to provide jobs, in accordance with their eligibility, to such sportspersons.
The silver came in the women's 10m air rifle team event, where Vinod teamed with Sonam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan. The report carried a photograph identifying the silver-medal winning rifle team (L-R) as Vidarsa K Vinod, Sonam Maskar and Elavenil Valarivan at the Asian Games in Japan on September 20, 2026. The team result produced Vinod’s first podium finish at the Asian Games.
Speaking to a TV channel, Vinod said she was very happy she could win a medal in her first Asian Games. "There are very few people from Keralam in this sport and I am happy to be first woman from the state to win a medal in shooting," she said. She said she got married a year and a half ago and that right after her wedding she began her training and was taking part in international events, so she and her husband could not spend much time together. "Without any of their support I could not have achieved this," she said of her parents, husband, other family members and her coach.
Vinod said she started shooting in 2018 as part of the National Cadet Corps and by the next year chose it as her profession. She added that most of her training takes place in Delhi. Her mother, speaking to a TV channel, said: "I am proud of her achievement."
Vinod welcomed the recent cash prizes announced by the state government for Asian Games medallists and said the support was a huge motivation. "Prior to this our sportspersons had not received any such cash prize from the government. So, this support gives us energy to perform," she said. The Keralam government had earlier this month announced cash rewards of ₹50 lakh for state athletes winning gold medals at the Asian Games, ₹30 lakh for silver and ₹20 lakh for bronze.
Ms. Vinod said that this win has given her more energy to prepare for her main event, the 50 meter rifle 3 positions, which is on September 26. Her father said that he hopes she wins gold in her main event.
