Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil: India’s Gold-Medal Hopes in Nagoya
Avani Lekhara scored 249.6 on October 19, yet it wasn’t enough for gold. Mona Agarwal edged her by 0.4 points in a finish that went down to the last shots. Even so, the result opened India’s medal count, so it was far from a bad day. Here’s where Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil stand in Nagoya, because both carry big hopes. All records and results are checked as of October 21, 2026.
Avani Lekhara’s Silver Opens India’s Account
So the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final opened India’s medal count. Mona Agarwal won gold with a Games record, while Avani Lekhara took silver with 249.6. Before the last shots, Mona led 239.2 to 239.1, which shows how thin the gap was. In fact, Avani Lekhara had led the final until the 19th of 24 shots, according to The Bridge.
That finish also made history for the squad, because it was India’s first-ever one-two in shooting at the Asian Para Games. Mona became the second Indian woman to win shooting gold at this event, so the day belonged to both shooters. Since Avani Lekhara is the defending champion from Hangzhou, silver stings a little. Still, it keeps her on the podium.
Why the Silver Still Matters for Avani Lekhara
The medal brought something bigger than colour, because it came with a prize for the future. Avani Lekhara secured India’s second quota place in this event for the LA 2028 Paralympics. Meanwhile, Mona had earned the first quota at last month’s World Championships. So India now holds two quota places in this event for Los Angeles.
That’s a useful outcome, because quota places can be hard to win. A locked-in quota also removes pressure from the next two seasons. As a result, Avani Lekhara can focus on form rather than qualification. Meanwhile, the team gets time to plan around her peak. Together, the two quota places give India a strong base in this event, which is a rare advantage this early.
The Career Record of Avani Lekhara
Avani was only 19 when she won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics. She shot 249.6 there, which equalled the world record and set a Paralympic record. As a result, she became the first Indian woman to win Paralympic gold. In other words, her career began at the very top, so the bar was always high.
The list since then is strong, so here’s a quick summary of her main results. Each entry comes from match reports or official results pages, because the figures need to hold up. It starts with her Tokyo breakthrough and runs right through to Nagoya.
- Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Gold in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, plus bronze in the 50m rifle event.
- 2022 Asian Para Games, Hangzhou: Gold in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
- Paris 2024 Paralympics: Gold in the same event with 249.7, a Paralympic record.
- November 2025, Al Ain: Gold at the Para Shooting World Cup in the same event.
- 2026 Asian Para Games, Aichi-Nagoya: Silver with 249.6.
The International Paralympic Committee also named her Best Female Debut at its 2021 awards. Meanwhile, her coach Chandra Shekhar has worked with her in Jaipur since 2016. That steady partnership has clearly paid off, because the 249.6 has appeared in her record more than once.
How the SH1 Air Rifle Event Works
For newer fans, the event name can sound like code, so a short guide helps. SH1 is a class for shooters who can hold the rifle without a stand. The R2 event is the women’s 10m air rifle standing, which means the athlete fires from a standing position. Because the targets are tiny, a tenth of a point can decide a medal.
That’s why the Nagoya final felt so tense. Even so, Avani Lekhara’s 249.6 matched her own Tokyo mark, which says a lot about her consistency. At the same time, Mona’s winning score set a new Games record, so the standard keeps rising.
Sumit Antil’s Defence of the F64 Javelin Title
Sumit Antil competes in the men’s javelin throw F64, a class for athletes with a unilateral below-knee limb deficiency. They throw with a prosthesis, so balance and technique matter hugely. He’s a wrestler-turned-javelin thrower who made his mark after losing a leg, according to profile reports. So his story is unusual even among champions. Born on June 7, 1998, he’s a double Paralympic champion, so expectations are high.
His final is part of the para athletics programme, which runs from October 19 to 23. I couldn’t confirm the result when this was written, so check live results for the latest. Still, the form guide is clear, because Sumit won this title at the last Games. He’s also arrived in Nagoya with a fresh world record, which means confidence should be high.
Sumit Antil’s Record Run
His records tell the story better than any summary. In Hangzhou, meanwhile, he threw 73.29m to win gold and set world, Asian and Games records. Then in 2025, he won the World Championships in New Delhi with 71.37m, a championship record. After that, he kept pushing, because 2026 brought a new world mark.
- Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Gold with a then world record of 68.55m.
- Paris 2024 Paralympics: Gold, with a Paralympic record broken twice.
- 2022 Asian Para Games, Hangzhou: Gold with 73.29m.
- 2025 World Championships, New Delhi: Gold with 71.37m.
- May 2026: World record of 74.82m.
He also won the Dubai and New Delhi Grand Prix events earlier in 2026, with 69.25m in March. Because he keeps chasing the 75m mark, even a gold-medal throw may not satisfy him. Of course, that hunger is what makes him the favourite, while rivals chase his shadow.
Other Indian Gold-Medal Hopes in Nagoya
Still, Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil aren’t alone in the medal hunt. India sent 168 athletes across 11 disciplines, so the pool of contenders is deep. Meanwhile, Rinku Hooda and Jhandu Kumar are also named among the leading Indian athletes. These names come from reports published through October 20, 2026, so the list may grow.
- Mona Agarwal: Gold in the SH1 air rifle, ahead of Avani.
- Nishad Kumar: Paralympic medallist entered in the T47 long jump and high jump.
- Deepthi Jeevanji: Won the women’s 400m T20 in 56.36 seconds, an Asian Para Games record.
- Simran Sharma: Sprinter who carried the flag at the opening ceremony.
- Manish Narwal: Silver medallist in para shooting, per match reports.
Deepthi’s run shows why athletics matters so much. Para athletics produced 55 of India’s medals at Hangzhou, which was about half of the haul and included 18 golds. So the track and field results will shape the final tally, because no other sport comes close. That history also means the athletes in Nagoya carry real pressure to repeat it.
What’s Next for Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil
The Games run until October 24, and India’s tally was 22 medals after the early rounds. That’s a healthy pace, although the target is higher than Hangzhou’s 111. Both Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil will want to add to it, so the next few days will matter. For Avani, the long-term target is the 2028 Games, where her quota place gives her a head start. For Sumit, the next milestone is the 75m line, because no para javelin thrower has crossed it yet.
Fans can follow related stories too, so here are three. For instance, Pramod Bhagat’s medals and ranking cover the badminton side. Meanwhile, Sheetal Devi’s record-setting archery campaign is already a highlight. Then Bhavina Patel’s table tennis career adds another medal to the count.
Key Takeaways
- Avani’s result: Silver in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 with 249.6, behind Mona Agarwal.
- Historic finish: India’s first one-two in shooting at the Asian Para Games.
- Quota place: Avani secured India’s second LA 2028 quota in the event.
- Sumit’s record: World record of 74.82m in May 2026, plus a 73.29m mark from Hangzhou.
- Sumit’s event: The F64 javelin final falls within the para athletics block of October 19 to 23.
- Team pace: India had 22 medals after the early rounds.
FAQs
Did Avani Lekhara win gold at the Asian Para Games 2026?
No, she won silver with 249.6 behind Mona Agarwal in the SH1 air rifle event.
What is Sumit Antil’s world record in the F64 javelin?
His world record is 74.82m, set in May 2026.
How many Paralympic golds does Avani Lekhara have?
She has two, from Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Which class does Sumit Antil compete in?
He competes in F64, which is for athletes with a unilateral below-knee limb deficiency.
When do the Asian Para Games 2026 end?
They end on October 24 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Conclusion
Avani Lekhara didn’t get the gold she wanted on October 19, but she gained a medal and a quota place. Meanwhile, Sumit Antil still has his own chance to add gold to India’s tally. Together, they show why India’s para stars carry such high hopes into every Games. So whatever the final result, Avani Lekhara’s silver has already served the team well.
