CHANGWON, SOUTH KOREA — The trajectory of Indian para-shooting continues its meteoric rise as veteran marksman Mona Agarwal etched her name into the history books once again. On a high-stakes Thursday in Changwon, the 38-year-old athlete delivered a masterclass in composure, clinching the silver medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the WSPS World Championships and, more importantly, securing a precious quota place for India for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
In a breathtakingly narrow finale, Agarwal pushed the boundaries of the sport, finishing with a score of 250.0. The margin for error was razor-thin; she trailed only 0.2 points behind the eventual gold medalist, 22-year-old Serbian sensation Kristina Trifunovic, who finished at 250.2. With the top two positions guaranteeing passage to Los Angeles, Agarwal’s clinical performance ensured that India became the first nation to lock in a quota for the event, setting the tone for the upcoming Paralympic cycle.
Redemption and the Lessons of Near-Misses
For Agarwal, the silver medal hanging around her neck in South Korea represents far more than just a trip to California four years from now; it is the culmination of a grueling journey marked by resilience and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. The Sikar, Rajasthan native, who has navigated the challenges of polio since infancy, vividly recalls the heartbreak of the 2023 World Championships.
In that tournament, a podium spot—and a Paralympic dream—slipped through her fingers by a mere 0.3 points. “Last time in 2023 when I had participated in the World Championships, I missed the quota by 0.3,” Agarwal told RevSportz. “It was my second international match and I was very nervous. I still have those memories fresh in my mind. I participated this time with all those learnings, and I am happy that I could achieve whatever I wanted to. So, the performance this time and the medal means a lot to me.”
Her evolution as an athlete has been rapid. Following a bronze-medal effort at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, she has transitioned from a promising newcomer to a cornerstone of the Indian shooting contingent. Reflecting on her path, she highlighted the pressure of qualification processes: “I remember in March 2024 during the New Delhi World Cup, I was told that you have the last ‘bacha-hua’ (remaining) quota. I considered even that as glory, but this time, I am grateful to the almighty that he supported me and I could secure the first quota place.”
A Collective Triumph
While Agarwal claimed the headlines with her quota-securing silver, the success in Changwon was a testament to the immense depth of talent within the Indian para-shooting program. Paris Paralympic gold medalist Avani Lekhara, a titan in the sport, rounded out the podium with a bronze-medal finish, posting a score of 229.4.
While Lekhara’s placement did not trigger a secondary quota—as regulations strictly limit qualification to the top two finishers—her presence on the podium bolstered a significant team effort. Agarwal and Lekhara combined their individual scores to secure the team gold medal, reinforcing India’s status as a global powerhouse in the SH1 rifle discipline.
The Road to Los Angeles 2028
With the qualification hurdle now cleared, Agarwal is already pivoting her focus toward the challenges of the next four years. In the world of elite para-shooting, the path to the Paralympics is rarely linear; while she has secured the quota for the nation, the individual representation for India in 2028 will ultimately be determined by rigorous trials and internal assessments conducted closer to the Games.
However, Agarwal’s ambitions transcend merely qualifying. She is eyeing a golden upgrade to her collection and is looking to broaden her competitive horizons. “In 2028, I want the medal color to change into a gold,” she stated with clear conviction. “I am also planning to secure a medal in the 50m event, since it would be my first achievement in 50m if I get one.”
The sport of shooting requires a unique blend of physical stability and mental fortification. For Agarwal, who has spent years perfecting her craft, the Changwon silver is not the summit, but rather a platform. As she returns from South Korea, she carries with her the lessons of her 2023 heartbreak, the confidence of her Paris success, and the clear, focused vision of an athlete who understands that in the high-stakes arena of the Paralympics, every 0.1 of a point tells a story of triumph.
As India looks ahead to Los Angeles, the performance of Mona Agarwal serves as a beacon for aspiring para-athletes across the country. Her ability to translate past disappointment into present-day success is the hallmark of a world-class competitor—one who is not just chasing medals, but rewriting the standards of Indian para-sports.
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