CM Saini Hails Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara's Para Games Gold-Silver
Synopsis
Mona Agarwal claimed gold and Avani Lekhara silver in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, giving India a stunning double podium. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini lauded both athletes, calling their dedication an inspiration for every Indian.
Key Takeaways
Mona Agarwal won the gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Avani Lekhara claimed the silver medal in the same event, giving India a historic 1-2 finish.
Avani Lekhara had previously made history as the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold , at Tokyo 2020 in the same discipline.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini publicly congratulated both athletes on 19 October 2026 , calling the moment a 'swarnima aaghaz' — a golden beginning.
The result reflects India's growing depth in para shooting, built on increased investment since the 2016 Rio Paralympics .
A golden opening shot. At the Asian Para Games 2026, India's women para shooters delivered a stunning double podium finish in the 10-metre air rifle SH1 event — Mona Agarwal seizing gold and Avani Lekhara claiming silver, lighting up the tricolour on an electric Monday. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to celebrate the feat, posting his congratulations on 19 October 2026.
In his post, CM Saini described the moment as a 'swarnima aaghaz' — a golden beginning — calling it a matter of immense national pride. 'Your dedication, hard work, and firm resolve is an inspiration for every Indian,' he wrote, extending warm wishes to both athletes.
Mona Agarwal's gold, Lekhara's silver — a 1-2 that stunned the field
The SH1 category is contested by athletes who have full use of their arms but limited function in their legs or lower body, making precision shooting the decisive factor. In an event where margins are measured in fractions of a point, India swept the top two positions — a result that speaks not just to individual brilliance but to the depth India has quietly built in para shooting. Mona Agarwal has been a rising name on the international para-shooting circuit, and Monday's gold caps a remarkable ascent. Avani Lekhara, meanwhile, carries the weight of history with her: at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, she became the first Indian woman ever to win Paralympic gold, in this very discipline. A silver here is, in any rational reading, still a triumph.Avani Lekhara — the benchmark who keeps raising the bar
Lekhara's story is one of the most compelling in Indian sport. She began shooting as part of her rehabilitation after a road accident and, within years, stood atop a Paralympic podium. Her presence in the Asian Para Games 2026 final — and her silver — signals that India's strongest card in this event remains world-class, even as a new generation, represented by Agarwal, pushes for the top step.Haryana's sporting pride and India's para-athletics surge
For CM Saini, the congratulations carry a particular resonance. Haryana has long positioned itself as a nursery of Indian sporting talent, from wrestling mats to shooting ranges, and both Lekhara and Agarwal represent the broader ecosystem of para athletes that the country has invested in since the 2016 Rio Paralympics — a turning point that prompted sharper institutional focus on para sport. India's medal haul at continental para events has grown steadily in the decade since, and a 1-2 in an individual shooting final is a vivid marker of that progress. Two Indian women, one final, two medals. The games have barely begun — and the tricolour is already flying.Point of View
Investment in coaching, classification pathways, and competition exposure has translated into measurable podium depth. The fact that a new name — Mona Agarwal — now stands above the established benchmark of Avani Lekhara points to a healthy pipeline, not a one-champion dependency. For a state-level political leader like CM Saini, amplifying para-sport victories also carries a calculated message: that Haryana's sports ecosystem extends beyond able-bodied wrestling and athletics, and that women athletes in non-mainstream disciplines deserve prime-time recognition.
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 the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
What medal did Avani Lekhara win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Avani Lekhara won the silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Has Avani Lekhara won at the Paralympics before?
Yes. Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics , also in the 10m air rifle standing event.
What is the SH1 category in para shooting?
The SH1 category is for para shooters who have full use of their arms but limited or no function in their legs or lower body. Athletes compete holding the rifle without a stand.
Why did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulate these athletes?
CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulated Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara to celebrate India's double-podium finish and to highlight the inspiration their achievement provides to every citizen, posting his message on 19 October 2026 .
