Kerala CM Satheesan asked to offer government job to Vidarsa K Vinod after Asian Games 2026 medal

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is being urged to offer a government position to shooting star Vidarsa K Vinod, following her historic silver medal performance at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The Kozhikode-born athlete became the first woman from Kerala to win a medal in shooting at the Asian Games, as she helped India secure silver in the women’s 10m Air Rifle team event.

Kerala Sports Minister O.J. Janeesh has penned a letter to Satheesan, recommending Vinod be considered for a suitable government role under the state’s sports quota provisions. In his letter, Janeesh urged the General Administration Department and other relevant authorities to assess Vinod’s eligibility and commence the required procedures, provided they abide by the applicable rules and verify her credentials.

Janeesh praised Vinod’s achievement, stating that her silver medal would bring great pride to Kerala and serve as an inspiration for young athletes across the state. Vinod was part of India’s team alongside Elavenil Valarivan and Sonam Uttam Maskar, who together scored a combined total of 1898.0 points. China took the gold medal with 1904.2 points, while Japan claimed bronze with 1897.1 points.

Sonam led the Indian team with 634.1 points, while Elavenil contributed 633.5 points. Vinod herself scored 630.4 points and secured the 12th position in the individual qualification standings. This silver medal marks India’s first ever Asian Games medal in women’s shooting, with hopes that other athletes will follow in Vinod’s footsteps and secure additional medals, including a gold.