Nadda hails Mona Agarwal, Avani Lekhara at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Mona Agarwal struck gold with a new Asian Para Games record score of 250.0 while Avani Lekhara claimed silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, drawing congratulations from Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda.
Key Takeaways
Mona Agarwal won gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event with a score of 250.0 , setting a new Asian Para Games record .
Avani Lekhara secured silver in the same event, giving India a 1-2 sweep at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda congratulated both athletes on October 19, 2026 , describing the medals as a 'fantastic start' for India.
Avani Lekhara is a former Tokyo 2020 Paralympic gold medallist in the same discipline.
India has consistently ranked among the top medal-winning nations at the Asian Para Games, with para shooting a key contributor since the mid- 2010s .
A record-breaking gold and a hard-earned silver — India's para shooters have wasted no time announcing themselves at the Asian Para Games 2026. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Monday, October 19 took to X to congratulate both medallists, calling it a 'fantastic start' for the nation.
The cause for celebration is formidable. Mona Agarwal claimed gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event with a score of 250.0 — a new Asian Para Games record. Right behind her on the podium stood Avani Lekhara, who secured silver in the same event, ensuring India swept the top two positions in one of para shooting's premier disciplines.
Avani Lekhara and the weight of a legacy lane
Avani Lekhara is no stranger to these heights. She made global headlines at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics by winning gold in the 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 — becoming one of India's most decorated para athletes. Stepping onto the same event's podium again, this time in silver position behind a teammate who shattered the continental record, underlines both the depth of Indian para shooting and Lekhara's own relentless consistency.
Mona Agarwal's record that rewrites the continental benchmark
Mona Agarwal's score of 250.0 does not just win a medal — it resets the standard for the entire continent. Agarwal competes in the SH1 classification, which covers athletes with impaired arm or leg function who can support the rifle independently. Setting an Asian Para Games record in a final is the kind of performance that shifts expectations for every edition that follows.
India's para shooting surge and what's riding on the rest of the Games
This double podium is the latest marker on a trajectory India has been building for over a decade. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, India finished among the top medal-winning nations, with para shooting contributing a significant share. Government investment in training infrastructure and athlete classification support — ramped up substantially since the mid-2010s — has steadily converted raw talent into continental and global hardware.
With shooting delivering early and delivering emphatically, the pressure — and the momentum — now shifts to India's remaining contingent across other disciplines. A strong opening statement in the rifle range has a way of lifting an entire camp.
Two shooters, one range, two flags rising — India has set its tone at the Asian Para Games 2026, and the rest of the continent has been put firmly on notice.
Point of View
Not just individual brilliance. For a government that has positioned para sport as a soft-power and welfare milestone, Nadda's swift public congratulations fit a deliberate pattern of ministerial visibility around athlete success. The Asian Para Games record by Agarwal raises the bar for future editions and cements India's reputation as a para shooting powerhouse in Asia. Whether this early haul translates into a top-three finish in the overall medal table will be the real measure of India's para sport infrastructure investments.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mona Agarwal?
Mona Agarwal is an Indian para shooter who competes in the SH1 classification and won gold at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a record score of 250.0 in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing event.
What is Avani Lekhara known for?
Avani Lekhara is best known for winning gold in the 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, making her one of India's most celebrated para athletes.
What is the SH1 classification in para shooting?
SH1 is a para shooting classification for athletes with impaired arm or leg function who are still able to support their rifle without a stand, competing in both standing and other positions.
How has India performed at previous Asian Para Games?
India finished among the top medal-winning nations at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, with para shooting consistently contributing a strong share of the country's medals.
Why did J. P. Nadda congratulate the para shooters?
As Union Health Minister and a senior BJP leader, J. P. Nadda posted on X on October 19, 2026, to congratulate Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara on their gold and silver medals at the Asian Para Games 2026.
