India opened its medal account at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a memorable one-two finish in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, as Mona Agarwal clinched gold and fellow TOPS athlete Avani Lekhara secured silver in para shooting.
Mona produced an outstanding performance in the R2 women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final, winning gold with a score of 250.0 and setting a new Asian Para Games record. She surpassed Avani’s previous record of 249.6 to begin India’s campaign on a high.
The gold medal marked a significant rise for Mona, who had finished sixth in the same event at the 2022 Asian Para Games. Her improvement from sixth place to the top of the podium underlined her progress on the continental stage.
Avani, the defending champion from the 2022 edition, settled for silver with a score of 249.6. Despite missing out on gold, the Tokyo Paralympic champion added another major medal to her impressive international record.
The result also had important implications for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Avani secured a quota place for the 2028 Paralympics through her performance, joining Mona, who had already earned her quota at the World Championships.
The double podium finish provided India with a strong start to the Asian Para Games 2026, with the two shooters demonstrating the country’s strength in para shooting.
