Gold & Silver! Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara Shine at Asian Para Games
India opens Asian Para Games 2026 with a double podium finish in shooting. Mona Agarwal wins gold and sets a new record.
India has made a spectacular start to the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, securing its first medals of the competition through a dominant performance in the shooting arena. Para shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara delivered a stunning 1-2 finish in the women’s 10m air rifle final, bringing home both the gold and silver medals.
A Record-Breaking Performance
Mona Agarwal stole the spotlight by clinching the gold medal with a remarkable score of 250 after the seventh series. In doing so, she didn't just win the title but also established a new Asian Para Games record, edging past the previous mark of 249.6.
Adding to the glory, Avani Lekhara secured the silver medal with a score of 249.6. The duo's dominance was evident even before the finals; Agarwal had previously topped the qualification round with a score of 629.1, setting a new continental record and narrowly missing the world record of 629.4. Lekhara followed closely in the qualifications with 626.4 points.
PM Modi Praises the Champions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the achievements of the two athletes, highlighting their role in making India's opening day special.
"Congratulations to Mona Agarwal on winning Gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026! Thanks to her outstanding score, she has also set a new Asian Para Games Record! It is a remarkable achievement that makes India's opening day even more special. Her precision, determination and composure are truly commendable," the PMO post stated.
The Prime Minister also lauded Avani Lekhara for her consistency and determination, stating that her silver medal win continues to make the nation proud and wishing her the best for her future endeavors.
Mixed Results for the Men's Team
While the women's team dominated the podium, the results were more challenging for the Indian men in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. Despite a strong showing in the qualifications, India failed to secure a medal in the final.
- Mahavir Swaroop Unhalkar: Finished fourth with a score of 205.9, exiting after the fifth series.
- Rakesh Nidagundi: The debutant finished in seventh place with 141.5 points.
In the qualification stages, Nidagundi and Unhalkar had successfully reached the finals with scores of 619.3 and 617.4, respectively. However, Anandha Krishnan missed out on the final cut, finishing 13th with a score of 605.2.