Asian Para Games: India’s Mona sets 10m air rifle qualification record

India’s Mona Agarwal set a new Asian Para Games qualification record in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games on Monday, while compatriot Avani Lekhara finished second to secure a one-two finish for India ahead of the final.Agarwal topped the qualification standings with 629.1 points across six series, surpassing the previous Asian Para Games record held by China’s Zhang Cuiping. Her score was just 0.3 points short of the world record of 629.4, jointly held by Lekhara and Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova.

Record Alert! A stellar qualification round and a new record set by Mona Agarwal! Mona Agarwal (TOPS Athlete) delivered a phenomenal performance in the R2 - Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 Qualification, finishing at the 1st position with a score of 629.1 and setting a new Asian Para Games Qualification Record. With this, she has officially qualified for the finals! Final Match Details: Time: 10:35 AM IST onwards Let's keep the cheers rolling as she powers ahead! #AsianParaGames2026 #ParaShooting #TeamIndia #Cheer4Bharat

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) October 19, 2026

Lekhara scored 626.4 points to finish second, putting both Indian shooters in strong contention for medals in the final.Both athletes are Paralympic medallists, with Lekhara winning gold and Agarwal claiming bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.India also secured two places in the men’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final. Rakesh Nidagundi finished seventh with 619.3 points, while Swaroop Unhalkar qualified eighth with 617.4 points.However, Anandha Krishnan missed out on a place in the final after finishing 13th with 605.2 points.
Meanwhile, India’s para-archery campaign also began on a strong note, with Sheetal Devi equalling the world record in the women’s compound qualification round.The 19-year-old scored 704 out of a possible 720 points, matching the world record and surpassing the previous Asian record of 698 by six points.

A historic start to the day! Our para archers have set the stage on fire at the Asian Para Games 2026: Sheetal Devi (TOPS Athlete) delivered a phenomenal performance in the Para Compound Women Ranking Round, finishing 1st with a massive score of 704 (32 X’s and 25 10’s) to set a new Asian Record, Games Record, and equal the World Record. Payal Nag (Debutant) showcased great composure, finishing 5th (tied) in the ranking round with a score of 675 (12 X’s, 20 10’s). Team India consisting of Sheetal Devi (TOPS Athlete) and Debutant Payal Nag also finished 1st in the Para Compound Women Doubles Ranking Round with a combined score of 1379 (Sheetal: 704 & Payal: 675). They will now step onto the field for the Para Compound Women Doubles Quarterfinals on 20th October at 11:15 AM IST onwards. Let's keep the momentum going and cheer them on! #AsianParaGames2026 #ParaArchery #TeamIndia #Cheer4Bharat

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) October 19, 2026

Sheetal, the reigning world champion and a bronze medallist at the Paris Paralympics, will aim to maintain her form in the elimination rounds.Fellow Indian archer Payal Nag also impressed, scoring 675 points to finish joint fifth in the women’s compound qualification standings.The performances in shooting and archery marked an encouraging start for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, with several athletes advancing to the final and elimination rounds.