She contracted polio at nine months old, became a mother of two, took up shooting in her thirties, and went on to win two gold medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games.

Before Mona Agarwal stood on the podium at the 2026 Asian Para Games, her life had already involved challenges that had nothing to do with sport.

Born in Sikar, Rajasthan, Mona contracted polio when she was just nine months old, affecting both her legs. She grew up as the third daughter in a family where her father ran a hardware store and her mother was a homemaker. Her paternal grandmother, Geeta Devi, became one of the people who consistently supported and encouraged her.

Years later, Mona would become a mother of two and begin an entirely new chapter as a para-athlete.

A New Beginning in Shooting

Mona entered shooting in 2021, at a stage of life when she was already balancing family responsibilities with the demands of building a sporting career.

The transition was not simple. Her family saved to help her purchase her first rifle, while training required her to spend considerable time away from her children. According to The Indian Express, there were moments when conversations with her children became emotionally difficult because of how much she missed them.

Yet she continued training.

Her progress eventually took her to the international para-shooting circuit. She competed at the 2022 Asian Para Games, where she finished sixth, and later won bronze at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. By 2026, she had established herself as one of India's leading para-shooters.

From Sixth Place to the Top of the Podium

At the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Mona began her campaign strongly in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.

She topped the qualification round with 629.1 points, setting a new Asian Para Games qualification record. In the final, however, the competition became much tighter. At one point Mona had slipped to sixth position while fellow Indian shooter Avani Lekhara moved into the lead.

Mona fought her way back.

In the final shots, she regained the lead and finished with 250.0 points, just 0.4 ahead of Avani's 249.6. The result gave India a one-two finish and set a new Asian Para Games record, surpassing Lekhara's previous mark of 249.6. South Korea's Lee Yunri took bronze.

For Mona, it was her first Asian Para Games gold after finishing sixth at the previous edition.

Then She Did It Again

Her campaign did not end with the 10m title.

On the final day of the Games, Mona won a second gold medal in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event. This time, she did more than win. Her score of 357.5 set a new world record, improving on the previous mark of 356.

Mona therefore finished the 2026 Asian Para Games with two gold medals, making her one of the most successful Indian shooters at the Games.

Remembering the Person Who Believed in Her

Behind those medals is a personal story that Mona has repeatedly connected to her grandmother.

Geeta Devi supported her while she was growing up and encouraged her to believe in her own ability despite the challenges she faced. She also helped Mona financially from her savings.

When Mona won her first gold in Nagoya, she dedicated the achievement to her grandmother, who had passed away years earlier.

That connection gives the medal a meaning beyond the scorecard. The person who believed in Mona long before she became an international shooter was no longer there to watch her win, but remained part of the story she carried to the podium.

More Than a Medal

Mona Agarwal's journey is not simply a story about overcoming a disability or winning a sporting title. It is also about the decisions and sacrifices that came between those two points.

She entered shooting in 2021, trained while raising two children, relied on her family's support to get the equipment she needed, endured the difficulty of being away from her children and continued after setbacks on the international stage.

Five years after beginning her shooting journey, she left the 2026 Asian Para Games with two gold medals, an Asian Para Games record and a world record.

The numbers tell us what happened on the range. Her journey explains what it took to get there.

Related Stories