Asian Para Games 2026: Mona Agarwal Beats Avani Lekhara for Gold in 10m Air Rifle SH1, Both Secure LA 2028 Paralympics Quotas

Nagoya, Oct 19: Mona Agarwal produced a remarkable comeback to defeat compatriot and defending champion Avani Lekhara in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 final, securing India's first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games with a one-two finish on Monday.

The 38-year-old Paralympic bronze medallist climbed from sixth place to claim the title with an Asian Para Games record score of 250.0, edging Avani by just 0.4 points.
Avani, a two-time Paralympic champion who was aiming to defend her Hangzhou 2022 gold, settled for silver with 249.6 points, while South Korea's Yunri Lee secured bronze with 227.9.

The result also ensured India a second quota place for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, with Mona having already secured one at the WSPS World Championships in Changwon, South Korea, last month, where she won silver.

The final between the two Jaipur-based shooters went down to the wire, with Mona holding a slender 0.1-point advantage over Avani, 239.1 to 239.2, before the decisive shot. Mona delivered a superb 10.8, while Avani managed 10.5, sealing the gold for the mother of two.

Earlier, Mona had topped the qualification round with 629.1 points to establish an Asian Para Games qualification record, while Avani finished second with 626.4. However, the final initially favoured Avani, who opened with a 10.8 against Mona's 10.1 and maintained her lead through the early stages. She had accumulated 104.8 points after 10 shots, while Mona was sixth with 102.9.

The contest changed during the elimination rounds as Avani struggled to maintain her scoring consistency, allowing Mona to steadily climb the standings before completing her comeback. The SH1 category is designated for shooters with lower-limb impairments. The victory marked a significant milestone for India at the continental para-sport event, while Avani added another medal to her decorated career following the accident that left her wheelchair-bound.