Mona Agarwal celebrates her record-breaking gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. (Img: X)
Aichi-Nagoya: India made a spectacular start to the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with para-shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara securing a gold-silver finish in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. Mona claimed the gold medal with a Games-record score of 250.0 points, while Avani finished second to complete a memorable Indian one-two.
The opening-day performances also brought the spotlight onto para-archer Sheetal Devi, who matched the world record in the women’s compound qualification round, reinforcing India’s growing stature in international para-sports.
The women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery delivered a closely contested battle between two of India’s leading para-shooters. Mona Agarwal accumulated 250.0 points to secure the gold medal, while Avani Lekhara finished with 249.6 points to take silver. South Korea’s Yunri Lee claimed bronze.
Mona’s performance established a new Asian Para Games record, surpassing the previous benchmark of 249.6 points set by Avani at the Hangzhou edition. The narrow margin underlined the extraordinary precision required at the highest level of international para-shooting, where a single shot can determine the final podium positions.
The result marked a significant milestone in Mona’s competitive career, adding an Asian Para Games gold medal to her growing collection of international honours.
Born on August 11, 1987, Mona Agarwal hails from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and competes in the SH1 classification of para-shooting. She trains under coach Yogesh Kumar and has competed in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 and women’s 50m rifle three positions SH1 disciplines.
Mona established herself on the international stage with a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Her latest continental triumph further strengthens her standing among India’s prominent para-shooters.
At the 2026 World Shooting Para Sport Championships in Changwon, South Korea, Mona won one gold and one silver medal. Her performance at the championships also secured a quota place for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, taking her campaign towards another major international milestone.
Her progression reflects the growing depth of India’s para-shooting programme, where technical precision, competitive consistency and international exposure continue to shape medal-winning performances.
The SH1 classification is designed for para-shooters whose impairments allow them to support their rifle or pistol without requiring a shooting stand. It includes athletes with certain lower-limb or other eligible physical impairments, subject to the sport’s classification criteria.
The women’s 10m air rifle standing event demands exceptional control, concentration and consistency. Competitors must maintain a stable shooting position and execute precise shots under pressure, with the cumulative score determining their final ranking.
For India, the double podium in this event highlights the country's ability to produce elite athletes capable of competing for the highest honours at major para-sport competitions.
Avani Lekhara’s silver medal complements her established record in international para-shooting. The double Paralympic gold medallist had previously set the Asian Para Games record in the event at Hangzhou, and her latest performance ensured that India occupied both top positions on the podium.
The final followed an impressive qualification round in which Mona topped the standings with 629.1 points, setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record. Avani finished second with 626.4 points, giving India a one-two finish in the preliminary stage as well.
India also secured two places in the men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final. Rakesh Nidagundi qualified in seventh position with 619.3 points, while Swaroop Unhalkar finished eighth with 617.4 points. Anandha Krishnan missed qualification after recording 605.2 points to finish 13th.
India’s success extended beyond the shooting range, with para-archer Sheetal Devi delivering another headline-making performance in the women’s compound qualification round. The 19-year-old scored 704 out of a possible 720 points, matching the world record and establishing a new Asian record by improving the previous continental benchmark of 698 points.
Sheetal, the reigning world champion and a bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, emerged as one of the standout performers of the opening day. Her exceptional accuracy strengthened India’s prospects in the elimination rounds and added to the country’s growing momentum across para-sport disciplines.
Fellow Indian archer Payal Nag also impressed, scoring 675 points to finish joint fifth in the women’s compound qualification standings. Her performance further strengthened India’s position in the event as the contingent pursued additional medals in Aichi-Nagoya.
India’s campaign also featured encouraging progress in the women’s para-powerlifting final in the up-to-45kg category. Jaspreet Kaur successfully lifted 100kg in her opening attempt to move to the top of the standings at that stage of the competition.
She subsequently failed to clear 102kg in her second attempt but remained third as the contest progressed. Chinese and Kazakh competitors occupied the first and second positions, respectively, with the remaining attempts still to be completed at the time of the update. The final standings depend on each athlete’s highest successful lift across the three rounds.
The powerlifting competition added another dimension to India’s opening-day campaign, with athletes competing across different classifications and weight categories in pursuit of continental honours.
The performances by Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara and Sheetal Devi have provided India with a strong start to the Asian Para Games in Japan. While the shooting contingent delivered a record-setting gold-silver finish, para-archery produced a world-record-equalling score, strengthening expectations for further podium finishes.
India entered the continental competition seeking another strong medal haul after its record-breaking performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games. The 2026 edition features athletes from across Asia competing in multiple para-sport disciplines, including shooting, archery, athletics, badminton and powerlifting.
With several events still underway, India’s early achievements offer a promising indication of the contingent’s competitive potential. The focus will now shift to converting strong qualification performances into medals while maintaining consistency through the remaining rounds.
For Indian para-sport, the opening-day results are more than a collection of medals and records. They demonstrate the depth of talent, technical excellence and competitive resilience driving the country’s ambitions on the international stage.
