Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Indian shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara after the duo claimed gold and silver respectively in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Mona's triumph came with an Asian Para Games record score of 250, marking a historic opening day for India at the Games.

Record-Breaking Performance by Mona Agarwal

Mona Agarwal delivered a stunning comeback in the final, having been placed fifth at one stage before surging to the top of the podium. Her winning score of 250 surpassed the previous Asian Para Games record of 249.6 — a mark set by compatriot Avani Lekhara herself during the gold-medal performance at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. Mona narrowly missed the world record of 252, held by Slovakia's Iryna Shchetnik.

South Korea's Yunri Lee claimed the bronze with a score of 227.9, well behind the two Indian shooters who dominated the event.

Avani Lekhara Secures Paris 2028 Quota

Avani Lekhara, who had won gold in this same event at the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, settled for silver this time with a score of 249.6. Crucially, her performance here has secured her a quota place for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Mona Agarwal had already secured her LA 2028 quota last month at the World Championships.

Notably, both Indian athletes have now confirmed their berths for LA 2028, giving India's para-shooting programme strong continuity heading into the next Paralympic cycle.

PM Modi's Congratulatory Message

Prime Minister Modi took to the PMO India account on X (formerly Twitter) to personally congratulate both athletes. On Mona's gold, he wrote: 'Congratulations to Mona Agarwal on winning Gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026! Thanks to her outstanding score, she has also set a new Asian Para Games Record! It is a remarkable achievement that makes India's opening day even more special. Her precision, determination and composure are truly commendable. Wishing her continued success in the competitions ahead.'

In a separate post, Modi praised the silver medallist: 'A splendid Silver for Avani Lekhara! Congratulations to her on winning Silver in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an impressive score. Her consistency and determination continue to make the nation proud. Best wishes for her future endeavours.'

India's Para-Shooting Momentum

The double podium finish marks a strong opening for India at the 2026 Asian Para Games, with para-shooting once again emerging as a flagship discipline. This comes amid a broader rise in India's para-sports infrastructure, accelerated by medal hauls at successive Paralympic and Para Asian Games editions. Both Mona and Avani have become central figures in that growth story, and their continued rivalry — with records being broken between them — underscores the depth India has developed in this category. India's contingent will look to build on this momentum across other disciplines in the days ahead.