Who is Mona Agarwal? The Paralympic medalist set an Asian Para Games record and won the gold
Mona Agarwal won gold in the SH1 women’s 10m standing air rifle. (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: Mona Agarwal kicked off India’s 2026 Asian Para Games campaign by winning gold in the SH1 women’s 10m standing air rifle on Monday. She finished ahead of fellow Indian shooter Avani Lekhar, who won silver, to give India a memorable one-two finish.Mona scored 250.0 points in the finals at the Aichi prefectural General Shooting Gallery, setting a new Asian Para Games record. She broke the previous record of 249.6 points set by Avani at the 2022 Hangzhou Games.The final was thrilling, with Mona holding a narrow lead of 239.2 points over Avani’s 239.1 going into the closing shots. Mona ended up with 250.0 points while Avani finished with 249.6. South Korean Yunri Lee won the bronze medal. The gold medal adds to Mona’s growing list of achievements in para shooting and highlights her rise among India’s leading rifle shooters.
Who is Mona Agarwal?
Mona Agarwal is an Indian para shooter from Jaipur, Rajasthan. Born on August 11, 1987, she competes in the SH1 category in rifle shooting.She trains in Jaipur under coach Yogesh Kumar and competes in the women’s 10m standing air rifle and women’s 50m air rifle SH1 events.Mona built her career by consistently performing at national and international competitions. Her success at the Asian Para Games is another major achievement in a career that has seen her compete with some of the world’s best para shooters.Mona achieved a major milestone at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games where she won bronze in the SH1 Women’s 10m Standing Air Rifle.The medal brought her international recognition and made her one of India’s leading para rifle shooters.At the Paris Games, she competed in the same event in which she has now won gold at the Asian Para Games. Her latest performance shows her ability to compete at the highest level and challenge experienced shooters.Mona continued her good form in preparation for the 2026 Asian Para Games.She won one gold and one silver medal at the 2026 World Para Sports Shooting Championships in Changwon, South Korea. She also secured India’s quota for the Paralympics in Los Angeles 2028. Her achievements at World Cup events include two gold, two silver and one bronze medals, adding to her experience in international competitions.These results helped Mona establish herself as an important member of the Indian para shooting team.
What is the SH1 category in para shooting?
SH1 is a classification for para shooters who have lower extremity disabilities or disabilities that do not require the use of a shooting stand to support the rifle.Athletes in this category may compete in rifle or pistol events depending on their classification. In the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 discipline, shooters aim at a target from a distance of 10 meters.The competition requires precision, concentration and control, with each shot playing an important role in deciding the final standings.
Achievements of Mona Agarwal
- 2026 Asian Para Games: Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 gold medal, with a Games record of 250.0 points.
- Paris Paralympics 2024: Bronze medal in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
- Para Sport Shooting World Championship 2026: One gold and one silver medal in Changwon, South Korea.
- Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics: Quota spot secured for India in 2026 World Cup.
- World Cup events: Two gold, two silver and one bronze medals.
Mona’s gold at the Asian Para Games is another important step in her career. By setting a new games record and finishing ahead of Avani Lekhara, she added another major achievement to her growing list of achievements in para shooting.
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