Mona Agarwal wins 10m Air Rifle SH1 gold in Nagoya; PM Modi congratulates her

On October 19, 2026 in Nagoya, Mona Agarwal won the gold medal in the women's 10m Air Rifle standing SH1 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent her a special congratulatory message on X.

When Mona Agarwal was asked whether she expected a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi after her record-breaking Asian Para Games medal win, there was a sparkle in her eye and happiness resonating through her voice. "Yes, absolutely!" said a thrilled Mona to the reporters. Her immediate reaction drew attention in the mixed reporting around India's opening day in Nagoya.

Mona clinched gold with an Asian Para Games record of 250 points, narrowly beating defending champion Avani Lekhara, who finished second with 249.6 points. Avani, the reigning Paralympic and Asian Games champion, held the lead at the halfway stage of the final. A 9.7 in the fourth series of the second stage allowed Mona to move into the lead and ultimately close out the victory.

Avani briefly slipped behind South Korea's Yunri Lee and Kazakhstan's Aigerim Tulegenova during the contest before recovering to secure silver, completing a one-two for India in the event. The shifts in form during the second stage proved decisive for the medal positions. The margin between the two Indian shooters was 0.4 points at the finish.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a separate message on X praising Avani. "A splendid Silver for @AvaniLekhara! 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," said PM Modi on X.

For Mona, the triumph comes in a shooting career that began in December 2021. "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," said PM Modi on X.