Asian Para Games 2026: Mona Agarwal Wins Gold, Avani Lekhara Takes Silver as PM Modi Congratulates Shooters

Mona Agarwal won gold and Avani Lekhara secured silver in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, earning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulations at the 2026 Asian Para Games.

PM Modi Congratulates Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara on Asian Para Games Gold-Silver Finish

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Indian para shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara after they won gold and silver medals, respectively, in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Indian duo delivered an impressive performance, securing the country’s first medals of the continental competition. Agarwal claimed the top position with a record-breaking score, while Lekhara finished second to complete a memorable one-two finish for India.

In messages shared by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on X, Modi praised both athletes for their determination, precision and consistency, wishing them success in their upcoming events.

Mona Agarwal Wins Gold with a New Asian Para Games Record

Mona Agarwal clinched the gold medal after scoring 250 points in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final. Her performance established a new Asian Para Games record, surpassing the previous mark of 249.6 points set by Avani Lekhara at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.

Congratulating Agarwal, Modi highlighted her outstanding score and praised her ability to perform under pressure. He described the achievement as a special moment for India on the opening day of its campaign.

The Prime Minister also commended her composure and accuracy, expressing confidence in her continued success during the competition.

Agarwal’s record-setting performance provided India with an encouraging start to its para shooting campaign and demonstrated the strength of the country’s athletes in the event.

Avani Lekhara Secures Silver Medal for India

Avani Lekhara won the silver medal with a score of 249.6 points, finishing just behind Agarwal. The result gave India both the gold and silver medals in the same event.

Modi congratulated Lekhara in a separate message, praising her consistency and determination. He noted that her performance continued to bring pride to the country and extended his best wishes for her future competitions.

Lekhara’s silver-medal finish also carried significance because her previous score of 249.6 points had stood as the Asian Para Games record from the 2023 edition in Hangzhou.

The Indian shooters’ performances highlighted the country’s competitive position in para shooting at the 2026 Games.

Mona Agarwal Sets Qualification Record Before the Final

Agarwal had already made an impact during the qualification round earlier in the day. She topped the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 qualification standings with 629.1 points across six series, setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record.

Her score exceeded the previous qualification mark held by China’s Zhang Cuiping. It also came within 0.3 points of the world record of 629.4, jointly held by Lekhara and Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova.

Lekhara finished second in qualification with 626.4 points, placing both Indian athletes in strong positions before the medal round.

Their qualification performances set the stage for the final, where they went on to secure the top two places and deliver India's first medals of the competition.

Indian Men Finish Outside the Medal Positions

India’s men’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 shooters also competed on the opening day, but they were unable to secure a podium finish. Mahavir Swaroop Unhalkar finished fourth in the final with 205.9 points. He was eliminated after the fifth series, narrowly missing out on a medal.

Debutant Rakesh Nidagundi finished seventh with 141.5 points in the final.

Both athletes had progressed from qualification. Nidagundi scored 619.3 points to finish seventh, while Unhalkar recorded 617.4 points to place eighth.

However, Anandha Krishnan did not advance to the final. He finished 13th in the men’s qualification round with 605.2 points. Although the men’s team missed the podium, reaching the final gave India additional representation in the event.

India Begins Its Asian Para Games Shooting Campaign on a High

The gold-silver finish by Agarwal and Lekhara marked a strong opening for India at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Agarwal’s record-breaking performance and Lekhara’s second-place finish demonstrated the depth of Indian talent in the women’s SH1 category. Their achievements also drew recognition from the Prime Minister, who praised their sporting excellence and determination.

With the competition continuing, India will look to build on the early success and add to its medal tally across upcoming events.

conclusion

Mona Agarwal’s record-breaking gold medal and Avani Lekhara’s silver medal marked a memorable start to India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Their outstanding performances earned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appreciation and highlighted India’s growing strength in para shooting. With the competition continuing, both athletes’ achievements have raised hopes for further medals and inspired the nation with their determination and sporting excellence.