Mona Agarwal Wins Asian Para Games Shooting Gold, Avani Silver

Mona Agarwal won gold and Avani Lekhara took silver in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, delivering India’s first-ever gold-silver finish in shooting at the Games. Agarwal claimed the title with a new Games record of 250.0, while defending champion Lekhara finished on 249.6.

The result opened India’s medal tally at the Games with a double podium in one of the opening shooting events. Agarwal became only the second Indian female shooter to win gold at the Para Asiad, while Lekhara added a silver medal after leading much of the final.

Agarwal sets a new Games record

Agarwal’s 250.0 established a new Games record in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final. Her score was enough to edge Lekhara by 0.4 points and secure the gold medal in a closely contested finish between the two Indian shooters.

Lekhara entered the event as the defending champion and held the lead through 19 of the 24 shots in the final. However, the final five shots changed the order at the top, with Agarwal finishing first on 250.0 and Lekhara second on 249.6.

The two-medal outcome is significant for India’s shooting contingent because it marked the country’s first 1-2 finish in the sport at the Asian Para Games. It also placed two Indian athletes on the podium in the same individual event, with Agarwal taking the historic gold and Lekhara securing silver.

Lekhara’s result also carried Paralympic qualification importance. Her performance secured India’s second quota place in this event for the LA 2028 Paralympics. Agarwal had earned the first quota place at the World Championships last month.

For Agarwal, the gold adds a major Para Asiad achievement alongside the Games-record score. For Lekhara, the silver followed a final in which she had been in front for the majority of the contest before the narrow final margin separated the two athletes.

Men’s SH1 finalists miss out on medals

India also had two representatives in the men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final, but the country’s wait for a medal in that event continued. Swaroop Unhalkar finished fourth, one place outside the podium, while Rakesh Nidagundi ended the final in seventh position.

Unhalkar and Nidagundi had both reached the final as the last two entrants. Neither was able to convert their qualification place into a medal, leaving India without a podium finish in the men’s event.

The women’s final nevertheless provided an early highlight for India at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Agarwal’s record-breaking 250.0 and Lekhara’s 249.6 ensured that India began its medal account with gold and silver, as well as a first-ever shooting double podium at the continental event.