In a historic sporting triumph for Indian athletics on October 19, 2026, shooter Mona Agarwal secured India's first gold medal of the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Competing in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final, Agarwal delivered a masterclass in marksmanship and nervous composure, amassing a winning total score of 250.0 points to take the top spot on the podium. The event witnessed a double podium finish for India, as two-time Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara captured the silver medal following an equally fierce wheel-to-wheel qualification and final shoot-off. In tandem with the shooting success, armless archer Sheetal Devi set the competition arena alight during the women's para compound ranking rounds, equalling the world record mark with an extraordinary performance to secure the top seed for upcoming medal elimination brackets. Sports authorities, coaches, and civil administrators praised the exceptional precision and mental resilience displayed across the contingent, emphasizing that opening the medal tally with a double podium finish provides incredible psychological momentum for the 168-member Indian delegation competing across 11 sports disciplines throughout the week-long continental games.

Commanding 1-2 Finish Opens India's Campaign in Japan

Paris 2024 Paralympic bronze medalist Mona Agarwal delivered a stellar performance to capture India's first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Competing in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final, Agarwal topped the leaderboard with an Asian Para Games record score of 250.0 points.

The high-octane final developed into a thrill between India's top two shooters. Defending Asian Para Games champion Avani Lekhara pushed the contest down to the final shot before settling for silver with a score of 249.6 points—finishing just 0.4 points behind Agarwal. South Korea's Lee Yunri claimed the bronze medal with 227.9 points.

Overview: Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 Final Results (Asian Para Games 2026)

Rank & AthleteNationFinal ScorePerformance Highlights & Status
1. Mona AgarwalIndia250.0 ptsGold Medal (New Asian Para Games Record)
2. Avani LekharaIndia249.6 ptsSilver Medal (Seals LA 2028 Paralympic Quota)
3. Lee YunriSouth Korea227.9 ptsBronze Medal
4. Aigerim TulegenovaKazakhstan206.2 ptsReached Final Stage Elimination

Nail-Biting Final Stage Drama

Lekhara held an early lead through the opening elimination series. However, a slight drop in the fourth series allowed Agarwal to seize a narrow 0.1-point advantage (239.2 to 239.1) heading into the final two shots. Holding her composure under pressure, Agarwal held onto her lead to claim gold and eclipse Lekhara's previous Asian Para Games record of 249.6.

India 10m Air Rifle SH1 Triumph Pipeline: ---------------------------------------- Qualification Phase ──> Lekhara & Agarwal Reach Final ──> Late-Stage Lead Swap ──> 1-2 Finish (Gold & Silver)

With this victory, Agarwal became only the second Indian female shooter after Lekhara to win an Asian Para Games gold medal. Having already locked in her LA 2028 Paralympic quota at the World Championships, Agarwal's win also helped ensure Lekhara secured her official quota spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.