Hangzhou: India opened its medal account at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a spectacular one-two finish in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 event on Monday, October 19. Mona Agarwal clinched the gold medal with an Asian Para Games record score of 250 points, narrowly defeating defending champion Avani Lekhara, who secured silver with 249.6 points.
The contest between the two Indian shooters went down to the wire, with Mona finishing just 0.4 points ahead of Avani. The result gave India its first gold medal of the campaign and delivered an encouraging start for the contingent on the opening day of the shooting competition.
The closely fought final also highlighted India’s strength in para-shooting, with two of its leading athletes occupying the top two positions. While Mona celebrated a record-breaking performance, Avani demonstrated resilience under pressure to hold on to the silver medal against challenges from international competitors.
Mona edges Avani in a closely fought final
The women’s 10m air rifle SH1 final produced an intense contest between Mona and Avani, who entered the competition with strong international credentials. Avani, the defending champion and a prominent figure in Indian para-shooting, had led the standings until the halfway stage of the final.
However, a score of 9.7 in the fourth series of the second stage gave Mona an opportunity to take the lead. She capitalised on the opening and gradually established an advantage over her compatriot.
Mona eventually finished with 250 points, setting a new Asian Para Games record in the event. Avani recorded 249.6 points to finish second, missing out on gold by the narrowest of margins.
Avani also faced pressure from South Korea’s Yunri Lee and Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Tulegenova, who briefly moved ahead of her during the competition. The Indian shooter recovered from the challenge to secure second place and ensure that India claimed both gold and silver.
The result was significant for the Indian contingent, as the two athletes delivered the country’s first medals of the 2026 Asian Para Games campaign. Their performance also provided an early boost to India’s hopes of building a strong medal tally across the competition.
Who is Mona Agarwal?
Born on November 8, 1987, in Sikar, Rajasthan, Mona Agarwal has built an impressive sporting career despite facing physical challenges from an early age. She contracted polio when she was nine months old, affecting both her lower limbs.
Before establishing herself in competitive rifle shooting, Mona explored several sporting disciplines, including para-athletics and para-powerlifting. She also played an important role in women’s sitting volleyball, demonstrating her versatility across different sports.
One of her early achievements came in 2019, when she captained Rajasthan’s women’s team to victory at the inaugural National Sitting Volleyball Championship. The experience helped establish her as a committed competitor before she moved towards para-shooting.
Mona began competitive rifle shooting in December 2021. Despite entering the discipline relatively late compared with many elite athletes, she progressed rapidly and began making an impression at national and international competitions.
Her transition into shooting proved successful, with a series of strong performances helping her emerge as one of India’s leading competitors in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 category.
From World Cup success to the Paralympics
Mona’s rise in para-shooting gathered momentum in 2022, when she won a silver medal at the national level. The following year, she secured bronze in the mixed team event at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Osijek, Croatia.
Later in 2023, she won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the World Cup in Changwon, South Korea. The victory marked an important step in her international career and strengthened her position among India’s promising para-shooters.
Her breakthrough performance came in March 2024 at the World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in New Delhi. Mona won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 event with a score of 250.7 points, setting an Asian record and securing a Paralympic quota place for India.
She carried that form into the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where she won bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. The achievement placed her among India’s successful para-shooters on one of the biggest stages in international sport.
Mona continued to compete successfully in team events as well. At the 2024 World Cup in New Delhi, she secured silver in the mixed team 10m air rifle event, adding to her growing collection of international medals.
Her performances were recognised with the Arjuna Award in 2024, one of India’s major sporting honours. The award acknowledged her achievements and contribution to Indian sport.
Balancing family life and elite sport
Mona’s journey has also drawn attention because of the determination she has shown while balancing family responsibilities and the demands of high-performance sport. A mother of two, she has continued to train and compete at the highest level while managing responsibilities beyond the shooting range.
Her journey through several sporting disciplines before finding success in rifle shooting underlines the persistence behind her rise. Rather than following a conventional pathway into elite shooting, she built her career through steady progress and performances at increasingly competitive events.
The medals at the World Cup and the Paris Paralympics helped establish her international standing. Her latest achievement at the Asian Para Games adds another major milestone to a career that has developed rapidly since she began competitive shooting in late 2021.
Avani Lekhara adds another medal for India
Although Avani missed out on gold, her silver medal ensured that India secured the top two positions in the event. She entered the competition as the defending champion and one of the country’s best-known para-shooters.
Avani has built a distinguished record in international competition, including success at the Paralympic Games. Her ability to recover after losing the lead during Monday’s final demonstrated her determination to remain in contention until the closing stages.
The silver medal also added to India’s early momentum at the Asian Para Games. With Mona setting a new competition record and Avani finishing close behind, the result showcased the depth of India’s talent in the SH1 category.
South Korea’s Yunri Lee and Kazakhstan’s Aigerim Tulegenova also challenged for positions near the top during the final, making the contest competitive. However, the Indian pair ultimately secured the first and second places.
A strong start to India’s Asian Para Games campaign
Mona’s gold medal and Avani’s silver gave India an ideal start to its campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026. The one-two finish delivered the country’s first gold medal of the competition and established an early benchmark for the shooting contingent.
For Mona, the victory represents another achievement in a career marked by rapid progress, international success and perseverance. Her Asian Para Games record of 250 points adds to the milestones she has already achieved at the World Cup and Paralympic levels.
Avani’s silver further strengthened India’s showing in the event, ensuring that both athletes stood on the podium. Their performances will provide encouragement to the wider Indian contingent as the competition continues.
India will look to build on this opening success in the days ahead. The result in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 event has given the country a memorable start, with Mona Agarwal’s record-breaking gold and Avani Lekhara’s silver highlighting India’s growing presence in para-shooting.