Asian Para Games 2026: Mona Agarwal sets Asian record, India top women's 10m air rifle
Synopsis
Mona Agarwal didn't just top the qualification round — she broke the Asian Para Games record with 629.1 points, coming within 0.3 of the world record jointly held by her own teammate Avani Lekhara. With both Paris Paralympics medallists through to the final and Sheetal Devi equalling the world record in archery on the same day, India's 2026 Asian Para Games campaign has opened with a statement.
Key Takeaways
Mona Agarwal topped the women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 qualification with 629.1 points , setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record .
Avani Lekhara finished second with 626.4 points , completing a 1-2 finish for India heading into the final.
Both Agarwal and Lekhara are medallists from the Paris Paralympics 2024 — bronze and gold respectively.
Rakesh Nidagundi (619.3) and Swaroop Unhalkar (617.4) qualified for the men's rifle final; Anandha Krishnan missed the cut in 13th place .
Sheetal Devi equalled the world record with 704/720 in para-archery, rewriting the Asian record by 6 points .
Payal Nag scored 675 points to finish joint fifth in the women's compound archery qualification.
India's Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara dominated the women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 qualification at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Monday, 19 October, finishing first and second respectively to put India firmly in contention for a double podium in the medal round.
Mona's Asian Record Performance
Agarwal topped the qualification standings with an impressive 629.1 points across six series, setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record and erasing the previous mark held by China's Zhang Cuiping. Her score came agonisingly close to the world record of 629.4, jointly held by her compatriot Lekhara and Slovakia's Veronika Vadovicova. Notably, both world record holders are themselves participants in this very competition.
Lekhara's Steady Run to Second
Lekhara accumulated 626.4 points to claim second place in the qualification standings, ensuring a historic one-two finish for India going into the final. The two shooters are no strangers to the top of the podium — Lekhara won gold and Agarwal won bronze at the Paris Paralympics 2024, making their current form a continuation of that elite trajectory.
Men's Rifle and Other Indian Finalists
India also secured two berths in the men's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final. Rakesh Nidagundi qualified seventh with 619.3 points, while Swaroop Unhalkar placed eighth on 617.4 points. However, Anandha Krishnan could not advance, ending the qualification round in 13th place with 605.2 points.
Sheetal Devi Rewrites Para-Archery Record
India's momentum was not confined to the shooting range. In para-archery, Sheetal Devi produced a world record-equalling performance in the women's compound qualification round, scoring 704 out of 720 points. Her tally not only matched the world record but also rewrote the Asian record by six points, surpassing the previous continental benchmark of 698. The 19-year-old reigning world champion and Paris Paralympics bronze medallist will carry significant momentum into the elimination rounds.
India's Broader Campaign Takes Shape
Fellow Indian archer Payal Nag added to the positive start, scoring 675 points to finish joint fifth in the women's compound qualification standings. This comes amid an encouraging opening day for India across disciplines, with record-setting efforts in both shooting and archery signalling a strong medal push at Aichi-Nagoya. With finals in both events approaching, India will look to convert its dominant qualification performances into gold.
Point of View
Raising the tantalising possibility of a world record in the final. What this performance also underscores is that India's para-shooting depth, built on the back of Paris 2024 success, is now a genuine force in Asia, not merely an individual story. Sheetal Devi's record-equalling archery performance on the same day signals a structural shift: India is no longer relying on a solitary star to carry its para-sports programme.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Mona Agarwal set at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Mona Agarwal set a new Asian Para Games qualification record in the women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, scoring 629.1 points across six series on 19 October 2026 in Nagoya. Her score surpassed the previous record held by China's Zhang Cuiping and came within 0.3 of the world record.
How did Avani Lekhara perform in the qualification round?
Avani Lekhara finished second in the qualification with 626.4 points, ensuring a 1-2 finish for India. She is one of the joint holders of the world record of 629.4 in the same event and is a Paris Paralympics 2024 gold medallist.
Which Indian shooters qualified for the men's 10m Air Rifle final?
Rakesh Nidagundi (619.3 points, 7th) and Swaroop Unhalkar (617.4 points, 8th) both qualified for the men's final. Anandha Krishnan missed the cut, finishing 13th with 605.2 points.
What did Sheetal Devi achieve in the para-archery qualification?
Sheetal Devi equalled the world record by scoring 704 out of 720 in the women's compound qualification round, simultaneously rewriting the Asian record by six points from the previous benchmark of 698. The 19-year-old is a reigning world champion and Paris Paralympics bronze medallist.
What is India's overall outlook at the 2026 Asian Para Games after day one?
India has made a highly promising start, with top-two finishes in women's air rifle, two men's rifle finalists, a world record-equalling performance in archery, and a joint-fifth finish from Payal Nag in women's compound archery. The country is well-placed to secure multiple medals as the finals begin.
