CM Majhi Hails Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi hailed Mona Agarwal's gold (Games Record) and Avani Lekhara's silver in Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling the one-two finish a testament to 'Nari Shakti' and India's rising para shooting strength.
Key Takeaways
Mona Agarwal won Gold in Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 at the Asian Para Games 2026 , setting a new Games Record .
Avani Lekhara secured the Silver medal in the same event, giving India a historic one-two podium finish.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi offered his congratulations on 19 October 2026 via a public post on X.
Lekhara is a Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist in the same discipline, making her one of India's most decorated para shooters.
Majhi described the achievement as a reflection of ' Nari Shakti ' — the strength and determination of Indian women.
Two Indian women walked off the shooting range at the Asian Para Games 2026 with the top two medals in the Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 — and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was quick to mark the moment. Mona Agarwal claimed Gold with a Games Record, while Avani Lekhara stepped onto the podium with Silver, giving India a one-two finish that signals the country's deepening dominance in para shooting.
A games record and a one-two sweep for India
Agarwal's gold-medal performance was not just a win — it reset the benchmark for the event, breaking the Games Record in the process. Lekhara, already one of India's most decorated para athletes, added another international medal to a career that includes a landmark gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in the same discipline. Their back-to-back finish on the podium is one of the cleanest demonstrations of India's para shooting depth in recent memory.
Lekhara's career arc: from Tokyo to the Asian Para Games
Avani Lekhara first captured national attention when she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, shooting to the top of the 10m Air Rifle SH1 standings in Tokyo in 2021. That breakthrough turned para shooting into one of India's most-watched disciplines. A silver here, behind a compatriot who broke the Games Record, only deepens the story — India is no longer just producing one exceptional shooter; it is producing a generation of them.
Majhi invokes Nari Shakti in his tribute
In his congratulatory post, CM Majhi called the double podium 'a testament to the strength and determination of Nari Shakti' — a phrase translating as 'the power of women' that has become a consistent thread in how Indian political leaders frame female athletes' achievements on the international stage. The framing connects individual sporting glory to a wider national narrative around women's empowerment, a theme that resonates strongly in the context of para sports, where athletes overcome both disability and social barriers to compete at the highest level.
With the Asian Para Games 2026 still under way, India's shooting contingent has already delivered one of the tournament's most emphatic statements. If the momentum holds, expect more podium moments — and more political voices amplifying them back home.
Point of View
Which carries real policy implications for funding and institutional support. If the Asian Para Games 2026 continues to yield medals, expect the narrative around dedicated para sports infrastructure to gain traction at the national level.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Mona Agarwal won the Gold Medal in Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 at the Asian Para Games 2026, setting a new Games Record in the process.
What medal did Avani Lekhara win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Avani Lekhara won the Silver Medal in Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 at the Asian Para Games 2026, giving India a one-two podium sweep in the event.
Who is Avani Lekhara?
Avani Lekhara is an Indian para shooter who became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal when she topped the Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics .
What is Nari Shakti and why did CM Majhi mention it?
' Nari Shakti ' means 'the power of women' in Hindi. CM Mohan Charan Majhi used the term to describe the achievement of Agarwal and Lekhara as a symbol of women's strength and determination in Indian sport.
What is the SH1 category in para shooting?
SH1 is a para shooting classification for athletes with a physical impairment in the lower limbs who can support the weight of their firearm without a stand, allowing them to compete in rifle and pistol events.
