Mona Agarwal Sets Asian Record at Asian Para Games in Nagoya

Nagoya, October 19 (Daily Kiran) : In a remarkable display of skill, Indian shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara excelled at the 2026 Asian Para Games held in Nagoya on October 19. Both athletes secured the top two positions in the women’s 10-meter air rifle standing SH1 qualification event.

Mona Agarwal topped the standings with an impressive score of 629.1 points, setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record. She surpassed the previous mark held by China’s Zhang Kuiping and came close to the world record of 629.4 points, currently held by Avani Lekhara and Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovikova.

Avani Lekhara followed closely, finishing in second place with a score of 626.4 points. As both shooters found their rhythm, India aimed to transform their strong start into a double podium finish.

Both Agarwal and Lekhara are notable medalists from the Paris Paralympics 2024, where they won gold and bronze, respectively.

In the men’s 10-meter air rifle standing SH1 event, India also had two finalists. Rakesh Nidagundi finished seventh with a score of 619.3 points, while Swaroop Unhalkar placed eighth with 617.4 points. However, Anand Krishnan did not qualify for the finals, ending up in 13th place with a score of 605.2 points.

The success in shooting follows an impressive start for India’s para-archery campaign, where 19-year-old Sheetal Devi equaled the world record in the women’s compound qualification round. She scored 704 out of 720 points, setting a new continental benchmark, surpassing the previous record of 698. As the current world champion and bronze medalist from the Paris Paralympics, she aims to maintain her excellent form in the elimination rounds. Additionally, Payal Nag performed well, scoring 675 points to tie for fifth in the women’s compound qualification standings.