Indian para-shooter Mona Agarwal won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday, October 19, setting a new Games record with 250.0 points. Fellow Indian shooter Avani Lekhara secured silver with 249.6 points, finishing just 0.4 points behind Agarwal. South Korea’s Lee Yunri claimed bronze with 227.9 points. The result gave India a one-two finish in the event and its first medals of the competition, highlighting the growing achievements of Indian athletes in para-sport.
Record-Breaking Performance
Agarwal delivered a strong performance in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final, finishing ahead of her compatriot in a closely contested competition. Her score of 250.0 points established a new Asian Para Games record for the final, surpassing the previous mark of 249.6 points held by Lekhara. The narrow margin between the two Indian shooters reflected the precision required at the highest level of competitive shooting.
The gold medal was preceded by another record-setting performance from Agarwal in the qualification round. She scored 629.1 points across six series, setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record and surpassing the previous mark held by China’s Zhang Cuiping. Her score fell just 0.3 points short of the world record of 629.4, jointly held by Lekhara and Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova. Lekhara also performed strongly in qualifying, finishing second with 626.4 points to ensure that both Indian shooters advanced to the final.
The final saw the two Indian athletes compete for the top position, with Agarwal ultimately securing gold and Lekhara taking silver. Lee Yunri finished third with 227.9 points. While the result was a significant achievement for both athletes, it also marked an important start for India’s campaign at the Games, with the country securing its first medals through a one-two finish in the women’s shooting event.
Athletes With Inspiring Journeys
The victory adds to Agarwal’s growing record in international para-shooting. Hailing from Sikar, Rajasthan, she began competing in rifle shooting in December 2021 after participating in other sporting disciplines, including para-athletics, para-powerlifting and sitting volleyball. She won a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Paris Paralympics in 2024, establishing herself among India’s leading para-shooters. Her progress from finishing sixth at the 2022 Asian Para Games to winning gold in 2026 reflects the development of her competitive career. Agarwal was also conferred the Arjuna Award for 2024 in recognition of her achievements in para-shooting.
Lekhara, meanwhile, has built an impressive record of her own. She became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal when she triumphed in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. She successfully defended that title at the Paris Paralympics in 2024, becoming the first Indian woman to win gold medals at consecutive Paralympic Games. Her silver at the 2026 Asian Para Games adds to her international achievements and demonstrates her continued presence among the leading athletes in the discipline. The SH1 classification is for shooting athletes with lower-limb impairments who can support the weight of the rifle without assistance.
The achievements of both shooters also come against the wider backdrop of India’s efforts to strengthen its presence in para-sport. Their performances demonstrate how sustained training, competitive opportunities and appropriate support can help athletes reach the highest levels of international sport. While no specific official statement accompanying the result was available in the reports reviewed, the scores and records provide a clear account of the significance of the performance. Agarwal’s gold and record-setting qualification round, alongside Lekhara’s silver, offer an important moment for Indian shooting at the Games.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Mona Agarwal’s record-breaking gold and Avani Lekhara’s silver are achievements worth celebrating not only for the medals they bring India but also for what they represent about opportunity, perseverance and inclusion. Para-athletes deserve the same recognition, training facilities, accessible infrastructure and institutional support as other sportspersons.
Their achievements should encourage sporting bodies, schools and communities to challenge stereotypes surrounding disability and make participation in sport more accessible to everyone. At the same time, celebrating individual success must go hand in hand with addressing the barriers that athletes with disabilities continue to face. Recognition should translate into lasting support, equal opportunities and greater public awareness. How can India build on achievements like these to ensure that more athletes with disabilities receive the resources and encouragement they need to thrive?
