CM Rekha Gupta Hails India's Gold-Silver Para Shooting Start
Synopsis
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta celebrated India's opening medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, as Mona Agarwal won a record-breaking gold and Avani Lekhara claimed silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.
Key Takeaways
Mona Agarwal won a record-breaking gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Avani Lekhara , a Paralympic gold medalist in the same discipline, won silver at the same event.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta posted congratulations on X on 19 October 2026 , calling it 'a golden start for India.' The result continues India's pattern of strong performances in para shooting at continental and global multi-sport events.
The Asian Para Games are held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee .
India opened its Asian Para Games 2026 account with a gleam of gold and silver in the shooting range, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was among the first to salute the moment. Mona Agarwal claimed a record-breaking gold while Avani Lekhara secured silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event — two names, one electric result.
Mona Agarwal's Record and Avani Lekhara's Silver
The Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 category is contested by athletes with impairment in shooting arm function, making precision and composure the defining qualities. Mona Agarwal did not just win — she broke a record in doing so, setting a new benchmark for the event at these Games. Avani Lekhara, already one of India's most decorated para athletes with a Paralympic gold to her name in the same discipline, added an Asian Para Games 2026 silver to her already formidable collection.
CM Gupta posted on X on Monday, 19 October 2026, describing the double podium finish as 'a golden start for India,' extending her 'heartiest congratulations' to both athletes and urging 'Team India' to 'keep shining.'
India's Rising Force in Para Shooting
The result is not an accident — it is a pattern. India has steadily built depth in para shooting disciplines at continental and global events over recent years, with the 10m Air Rifle category becoming a reliable medal pipeline. The Asian Para Games, held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee, serve as both a proving ground and a qualifier runway for the global stage.
Lekhara's trajectory in particular illustrates how far Indian para sport has travelled: from a near-unknown discipline to one where India now fields multiple podium-capable athletes in the same event. Agarwal's record-breaking performance signals that the depth behind Lekhara is genuine and competitive.
What Comes Next for Team India
With shooting delivering a one-two punch on the opening stretch of the Asian Para Games 2026, all eyes now turn to India's broader medal tally across disciplines as the Games progress. The shooting range has fired its first salvo — and it landed gold.
Point of View
Amplifying para-sport victories aligns neatly with the broader government narrative around inclusive sports development and 'Khelo India' era investment. The timing matters too: a record-breaking gold on the very first shooting day of the Asian Para Games 2026 sets a psychological tone for the Indian contingent heading into the rest of the competition.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mona Agarwal?
Mona Agarwal is an Indian para shooter who won a record-breaking gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Who is Avani Lekhara?
Avani Lekhara is a celebrated Indian para athlete and Paralympic gold medalist in the 10m Air Rifle discipline, who won silver at the Asian Para Games 2026 in the same event.
What is the SH1 category in para shooting?
SH1 is a para shooting classification for athletes who have impairment in their shooting arm or hand, competing in events such as the 10m Air Rifle Standing.
What are the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games are a continental multi-sport event for para athletes held every four years under the Asian Paralympic Committee.
Why did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta post about the Asian Para Games 2026?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta posted on X to congratulate Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara on their gold and silver medals in the Women's 10m Air Rifle event at the Asian Para Games 2026.
