Shooter Mona Agarwal secured India's first gold medal at the Asian Para Games, headlining an opening-day surge that delivered multiple podium finishes for the national contingent, according to reporting by Accredited Wire Reports.
Agarwal captured the top spot in shooting, sparking an initial haul of 11 medals on Day 1. The strong start was bolstered by an additional gold from Nishad Kumar, contributing to a total of four golds collected across various sporting disciplines early in the tournament schedule.
Indian Shooters Secure Top Podiums
India's shooting contingent produced standout results, including a double-podium finish in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event. While Agarwal clinched the gold medal, fellow Indian competitor Avani Lekhara earned the silver medal in the same event.
The performances drew national recognition, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly congratulating Lekhara on her silver-medal finish at the continental competition. The combined results positioned shooting as a primary driver of the team's early success on the leaderboard.
Broad Medal Haul Across Events
Beyond the shooting range, Indian para-athletes sustained momentum across several track, field, and target events. Wire dispatches confirmed that India captured a minimum of six medals across early contests before expanding the tally to 11 total awards by the close of the first day.
With Kumar and Agarwal leading the four-gold sweep, the delegation established a competitive footing in the initial phase of the continental games, setting an assertive pace for the remainder of the sports program.
