Thiruvananthapuram: Double silver medallist at the Asian Games 2026, Vidarsa K Vinod, received a grand welcome from supporters, officials and family members upon arriving at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on Monday night. Expressing delight over the turnout, the shooter reflected on her milestone achievement.

“I got my medal for my country, for my Kerala people and I was not expecting that I would get such a grand welcome. I feel so happy to be here. I am very excited to see all the people here,” Vidarsa said at the airport.

Vidarsa returned home after carving out a historic performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, securing two silver medals across team disciplines.

A historic campaign in shooting

The shooter featured in the Indian women's 10m air rifle team that captured silver, marking India's opening medal at the Games. Partnering with Elavenil Valarivan and Sonam Uttam Maskar, the trio posted a combined qualification score of 1898.0 points to secure second place. The victory established Vidarsa as the first female athlete from Keralam to claim an Asian Games medal in shooting.

She secured her second silver as part of India's women's 50m rifle 3 positions team alongside Tilottama Sen and Ashi Chouksey. The team recorded a combined tally of 1763-90x to finish behind China. Both Vidarsa and Tilottama also advanced to the individual 50m rifle 3 positions final.

 

Government job recommendation

In light of her historic performance, Kerala Sports Minister O J Janeesh submitted a formal proposal recommending Vidarsa for a government appointment under the state's sports quota framework.

Writing to Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Minister Janeesh urged the state administration to assess her eligibility and expedite administrative procedures. He noted that the appointment would honour her contribution to Indian sport while inspiring upcoming athletes across Kerala.

Vidarsa's double-medal haul contributed to a strong performance by the Indian contingent at the 2026 Asian Games, reinforcing the nation's rising standing in international shooting competitions.

ANI