Two Indian women. One shooting range. A gold and a silver — back to back in the same event. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday, 19 October 2026, hailed para shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara after they swept the podium in the 10-metre Air Rifle (SH1) event at the Asian Para Games 2026, calling it a 'historic double strike' for the nation.

Posting in Hindi, CM Sharma wrote: 'आपका यह ऐतिहासिक दोहरा प्रहार देश की अनंत नारी शक्ति और आत्मबल का साक्षात प्रमाण है' — ('This historic double strike of yours is living proof of India's limitless feminine strength and inner resolve'). He added that the duo had proved 'no boundary can block the path when courage is set on touching the sky,' and signed off with 'India is proud of you both.'

Mona Agarwal's Gold, Avani Lekhara's Silver in SH1 Shooting

Mona Agarwal claimed the gold medal, with Avani Lekhara finishing just behind to take silver — a one-two finish that handed India a near-complete sweep of the women's 10m air rifle SH1 podium. The SH1 category is contested by athletes with lower limb impairments who shoot from a standing position, demanding extraordinary stillness and mental discipline.

Lekhara is already one of India's most decorated para athletes: she won India's first-ever Paralympic gold in the event at Tokyo 2020, making her a household name in para sports. Agarwal has competed in the same discipline, and this Asian Para Games gold represents a landmark individual achievement for her alongside her celebrated compatriot.

Para Shooting's Rise and India's TOPS Investment

The result is not an accident. India brought para shooters under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in 2018, providing dedicated funding for training camps, equipment, and international exposure. The downstream effects have been visible: improved medal tallies at successive major para events since Tokyo, and a deepening pipeline of athletes in shooting disciplines.

State governments — including Rajasthan — have increasingly spotlighted individual para athlete successes as part of a broader push for grassroots para sports infrastructure, amplifying national recognition through platforms like social media.

What This Podium Sweep Signals

A gold-silver finish by two Indian women in the same shooting event, at a continental para games, is the kind of performance that shifts narratives. It signals depth, not just individual brilliance — a bench that can place two shooters on the same podium simultaneously. As the Asian Para Games 2026 continue, India's overall medal tally and any state-level announcements on para athlete support will be the metrics to watch.

For now, the scorecard reads simply: Mona Agarwal — gold. Avani Lekhara — silver. India — proud.