Daijiworld Media Network - Kozhikode
Kozhikode, Sep 20: Vidarsa K Vinod has become the first female sportsperson from Keralam to win a medal in a shooting event at the Asian Games, securing silver in the women’s 10m air rifle team event at the 20th Asian Games in Japan.
The medal came in Vinod’s maiden Asian Games appearance. She is also competing in the women’s 50m rifle 3 Positions event.
Speaking to a TV channel, Vinod said she was delighted to win a medal at 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.
Vinod, who got married around a year-and-a-half ago, said she resumed training soon after her wedding and continued participating in international competitions, leaving little time for her and her husband to spend together.
She said she took up shooting in 2018 through the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and decided to pursue it professionally the following year.
Most of her training, she said, takes place in Delhi.
Vinod credited her parents, husband, other family members and coach for supporting her journey and helping her secure the Asian Games silver.
“Without any of their support I could not have achieved this,” she said.
Her mother, speaking to a TV channel in Kozhikode, said she was unable to put her happiness into words and expressed pride in her daughter's achievement.
Vinod's father said he hoped his daughter would go on to win gold in her main event.
The shooter said the silver medal had given her additional motivation ahead of the women's 50m rifle 3 Positions event, scheduled for September 26.
Vinod also welcomed the Keralam government's recently announced cash incentives for Asian Games medallists, saying the recognition would serve as an additional motivation for athletes.
“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.
Earlier this month, the Keralam government announced cash rewards of Rs 50 lakh for state athletes winning gold medals at the Asian Games, Rs 30 lakh for silver and Rs 20 lakh for bronze.