Mona Agarwal saw her wish come true after Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a special congratulatory message following her record-breaking performance at the Asian Para Games. When previously asked if she anticipated a call or message from the Prime Minister after her victory, a thrilled Mona had eagerly answered in the affirmative.
Now, that wish has been fulfilled as the Prime Minister praised the para shooter for capturing the gold medal in the women's 10m Air Rifle standing SH1 event. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Mona's outstanding achievement made India's opening day of the games even more special, while commending her precision, determination, and composure on the shooting range.
The Prime Minister took to social media to congratulate Mona on her outstanding score, which established a brand new Asian Para Games record, and wished her continued success in her upcoming competitions. In the same event held in Nagoya, Prime Minister Modi also extended praise to fellow Indian competitor Avani Lekhara, who finished closely behind to claim the silver medal and complete a stellar one-two finish for the nation.
Mona clinched the gold medal with a record-breaking score of 250 points, narrowly overcoming defending champion Avani, who finished second with 249.6 points. Avani, who holds reigning Paralympic and Asian Games titles, initially led the competition at the halfway mark before a crucial 9.7 score in the fourth series of the second stage allowed Mona to seize control. Although both shooters experienced brief shifts in standing alongside international competitors, Avani fought back valiantly to lock down the silver, rounding out a historic day for Indian shooting.
For Mona, the victory represents another major milestone in a dedicated competitive shooting career that officially began in December 2021.