Mona Agarwal Wins Gold as Avani Lekhara Secures Silver in Historic Indian Shooting Double

India opened its medal account at the Asian Para Games 2026 in spectacular fashion, with Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara delivering a historic one-two finish in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. 

Mona claimed the gold medal with a score of 250.0, setting a new Asian Para Games record, while defending champion Avani secured silver with 249.6. The result marked the first time India had won both gold and silver in a shooting event at the Asian Para Games, giving the country an emphatic start to its campaign. The narrow margin between the two Indian shooters underlined the quality of the contest, with Mona finishing just 0.4 points ahead of her compatriot.

Mona’s performance rewrote the Games record, while Avani matched the Asian Para Games record she had established at the previous edition. Their performances ensured that the Indian flag was represented on the top two steps of the podium in one of the opening events of the competition.

Mona produced a composed performance in the final to finish with 250.0 points and take the gold medal. Her score established a new Asian Para Games record in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 category, making her the first Indian shooter to win gold at the 2026 edition.

The result was another significant achievement for Mona, who had already secured a quota place for India at the 2028 Paralympic Games through the World Championships. Her performance in Aichi-Nagoya added an Asian Para Games title to her growing list of accomplishments and provided India with its first gold medal of the competition. The final demanded consistency and precision, with the difference between gold and silver ultimately coming down to less than half a point. Mona maintained her advantage to finish on 250.0, setting the standard for the field and ensuring that India began its medal campaign with a record-breaking performance.

Avani Lekhara Adds Silver to India’s Historic Double

Avani Lekhara, the defending champion, finished second with 249.6 points to take the silver medal. Although she narrowly missed out on retaining her title, her performance ensured that India secured the top two positions in the event.

Avani equalled her own Asian Para Games record from the previous edition, demonstrating the consistency that has made her one of India’s leading para shooters. The 249.6 score placed her just behind Mona in a closely contested final.

The silver medal also carried an important qualification implication. According to the event updates, Avani secured a quota place for India at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Mona had already earned a quota at the World Championships, meaning the two Indian shooters’ performances were accompanied by significant progress towards India’s next Paralympic campaign.

The quota places add to the importance of the result, although a quota place is not the same as an individual athlete’s final selection for the Paralympics. The historic double podium therefore delivered both immediate success at the Asian Para Games and progress in India’s qualification campaign for 2028.

A Historic Start to India’s Asian Para Games Campaign

India’s one-two finish was notable not only for the medals but also for the record it established in the country’s Asian Para Games shooting history. Winning gold and silver in the same shooting event for the first time at the Games represented a milestone for the Indian contingent.

The result also provided an early boost to India’s medal campaign in Aichi-Nagoya. With Mona taking gold and Avani claiming silver, the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final delivered a memorable opening statement for the shooting team. Both athletes entered the final after emerging as the top two shooters earlier in the day. They carried that form into the medal round, converting their qualification performances into a double podium finish when it mattered most.

For Mona, the gold medal and Games record marked a breakthrough moment at the continental para-sport competition. For Avani, the silver medal and record-equalling score reinforced her standing among the leading competitors in the discipline.

The 2026 Asian Para Games will feature athletes from across the continent competing for medals and qualification opportunities. India’s opening success in para shooting gives the contingent early momentum as the wider competition unfolds.

Mona Agarwal’s record-setting 250.0 and Avani Lekhara’s 249.6 have already secured a special place in India’s Asian Para Games history. Their performances delivered two medals, two Paralympic quota places and a landmark first for Indian shooting at the Games.

India could hardly have asked for a stronger start: a gold medal, a silver medal and a historic one-two finish on the opening day of its medal campaign.