CM Samrat Choudhary Hails Mona Agarwal, Avni Lekhara's Para Games Gold, Silver

Key Takeaways

Mona Agarwal won the gold medal in women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 at Asian Para Games 2026 .

Avani Lekhara claimed the silver medal in the same event, adding to her historic Tokyo 2020 Paralympics gold.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary publicly congratulated both athletes on 19 October 2026 via X.

India secured first and second place in a single para shooting category at the continental championships.

Lekhara previously won India's first-ever shooting gold at the Paralympics in the Tokyo 2020 Games in the same discipline.

The result strengthens India's para sports profile ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics .

Two Indian daughters stepped onto an international podium and brought home gold and silver — and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary was among the first to salute them. On Monday, 19 October 2026, Samrat Choudhary took to X to congratulate Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara on their medal-winning performances in the women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.

Posting in Hindi, Choudhary wrote: 'Bharat ki betiyon ne badhaya desh ka maan' — 'India's daughters have raised the nation's honour.' He congratulated Mona Agarwal on clinching the gold medal and Avani Lekhara on securing the silver medal in the same category, calling their achievement a result of 'relentless hard work and unwavering resolve.'

Avani Lekhara's Long Road to Another Para Podium

Avani Lekhara is no stranger to historic finishes. She entered the global spotlight when she won India's first-ever shooting gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics — also in the women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 discipline — becoming one of the country's most celebrated para athletes. A silver at the Asian Para Games 2026 in the very same event adds another prestigious chapter to her resume. For Mona Agarwal, the gold medal marks a landmark moment — topping the podium ahead of a decorated compatriot in a continental championship is a statement of the depth now present in Indian para shooting.

Indian Para Sport's Rising Arc

This result fits a wider pattern that has been building since the early 2010s: India's para athletes are not just participating on continental and global stages — they are leading them. The Asian Para Games, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee as the continent's premier multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, provides a vital qualifying and confidence platform ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Choudhary noted that the achievement 'will inspire the youth of the country to realise their own dreams' — a sentiment that reflects political leadership's growing effort to position para sport success as a national motivational narrative, not a footnote. India finishing first and second in a single shooting event at a continental para games is the kind of result that builds medal-table credibility and signals that the country's investment in para athletics is bearing compound interest.

Point of View

Especially when athletes come from demographics underrepresented in mainstream sport. The fact that two Indian women finished first and second in the same event is a credible marker of structural depth in the programme, not just individual brilliance. As the 2028 Paralympics approach, expect this congratulatory-to-policy pipeline — from social media praise to scheme announcements — to intensify.

NationPress

19 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mona Agarwal?

Mona Agarwal is an Indian para shooter who won the gold medal in the women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, finishing ahead of compatriot Avani Lekhara.

What 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. She previously won India's first Paralympic shooting gold at Tokyo 2020 in the same discipline.

What is the SH1 category in para shooting?

SH1 is a para shooting classification for athletes who have full use of their arms but limited or no use of their legs, competing while seated. It includes the 10m air rifle standing event.

Why did Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary congratulate para athletes?

Samrat Choudhary, Bihar Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, posted congratulations on X to Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara for their gold and silver medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling it a source of national pride.

What is the Asian Para Games?

The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee. It is the continental equivalent of the Paralympic Games and serves as a key qualifier and platform ahead of the global Paralympics.