Aichi-Nagoya, 19 October (H.S.): Indian shooter Mona Agarwal set a new Asian record in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 qualification event at the Asian Para Games 2026, currently underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

India’s para-archer Sheetal Devi also delivered an outstanding performance, equalling the world record and establishing a new Asian record in the women’s compound ranking round. These impressive performances have further strengthened India’s medal prospects at the Games.

Mona scored 629.1 points across six series to top the qualification standings, surpassing the previous Asian record held by China’s Zhang Cuiping. She narrowly missed the world record by just 0.3 points. The world record of 629.4 points is jointly held by India’s Avani Lekhara and Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova.

Avani also produced a strong performance, scoring 626.4 points to secure second place in the qualification round and strengthen India’s position ahead of the final.

In the men’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, Indian shooters Rakesh Nidagundi and Swaroop Unhalkar qualified for the final. Rakesh finished seventh with 619.3 points, while Swaroop secured eighth place with 617.4 points. Anand Krishnan, who scored 605.2 points to finish 13th, narrowly missed qualification for the final.

Sheetal Devi Equals World Record

Indian para-archer Sheetal Devi equalled the world record in the women’s compound ranking round, scoring 704 out of a possible 720 points. She achieved the feat at the multipurpose field of Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park. Turkey’s Oznur Cure also jointly holds the world record with the same score.

Sheetal improved by six points on the Asian record of 698 that she set in Bangkok in March this year. She scored 352 points in each half of the qualification round, recording 32 Xs and hitting the 10-point zone 25 times. She finished at the top of the ranking round, also surpassing her previous Asian Games record of 680 points, set at Hangzhou in 2023.

India’s other archer, Payal Nag, scored 675 points to finish joint fifth. She registered 334 points in the first half and 341 in the second, including 12 Xs and 20 hits in the 10-point zone.

Sheetal and Payal also excelled in the women’s compound doubles ranking round, combining for a total of 1,379 points to secure the top position.

Harvinder Singh Finishes Fifth in Men’s Compound

In the men’s compound archery ranking round, India’s Harvinder Singh finished fifth with 631 points. He scored 310 points in the first half and 321 in the second, recording eight Xs and 13 hits in the 10-point zone.

Vijay Sundi secured seventh place with 630 points, scoring 318 in the first half and 312 in the second. His tally included six Xs and 13 hits in the 10-point zone.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar