Mona Agarwal, a mother of two, has overcome immense challenges to achieve her dream of winning a Paralympic medal. Despite being away from her children and facing financial difficulties, she persevered and clinched the bronze medal in women’s 10m air rifle at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Mona’s journey to the Paralympics was filled with obstacles. She left home in 2010 to pursue a career in sports, but it wasn’t until 2016 that she discovered the Paralympics. She experimented with various sports before settling on shooting, where she found her niche.
The financial burden of training and competing was another hurdle Mona had to overcome. However, she remained determined and sought support from her family and friends. Their encouragement and belief in her abilities gave her the strength to push through the tough times.
Mona’s children were a constant source of motivation for her. Despite being away from them, she made regular video calls to stay connected. However, the children’s innocent remarks about her forgetting her way home would often bring tears to her eyes.
“I used to cry every evening when I would speak with my kids,” Mona said. “I then started calling them once a week.”
Mona’s perseverance and resilience paid off when she secured a spot on the Indian Paralympic team. She entered the competition with the goal of winning a medal, and she delivered. Her bronze medal is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and unwavering spirit.
“This is my first Paralympics, I just started shooting two-and-a-half years back and within this period I reached this platform and performed my best and achieved my (goal of winning a) medal,” Mona said.
Mona’s victory is an inspiration to all who face adversity. It shows that with determination and support, anything is possible. Her story is a reminder that dreams can come true, no matter the obstacles that stand in our way.
