Boria Majumdar in Paris
It was around 9:30pm in Paris, and Mona Agarwal had just settled down after attending to all the phone calls and interview requests. While almost all of us had expected Avani Lekhara to win, Mona’s bronze was a surprise and added to India’s medal count. As she picked up the call, it was evident she was tired, and yet excited and relieved.
“It feels great to win this medal,” she said. “With all the financial struggle and everything else that we have been through as a family, this medal means the world to us all.”
Mona hadn’t picked up a gun ahead of 2021. She had no idea about rifle shooting and it was only after her husband was diagnosed with a neurological issue that she decided to do something in sport to put food on the table. “I had to do something for the family,” she said. “My husband was also a para athlete but this neurological issue meant he couldn’t continue playing. My in-laws, who are a great support, look after my two young children and the family funds are all spent in tending to my husband’s health needs.”
It meant there was no money left to support her endeavours, and if she wanted to pursue sport, she would have to do it all by herself. “I decided to borrow money from friends and buy all the equipment,” she recounted. “I always knew it was a very big risk but then I was determined to make it count and do something the family would be proud of. I now hope to be able to pay off my debts. Since the New Delhi World Cup in March, I got some support from OGQ [Olympic Gold Quest] and others, but because I am not a TOPS [Target Olympic Podium Scheme] athlete yet, it hasn’t been easy.”
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Mona Agarwal reacts after winning bronze says “In shooting you are fighting with your ownself”#Paralympics2024 #Mona #Shooting #Paralympics #Bronze @PCI_IN_Official @RohanDC98 @BoriaMajumdar @TrishaGhosal @ThumsUpOfficial pic.twitter.com/d0mGxrOKLB
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But the best was yet to come. When I asked if she had found time to speak to her children and husband, there was a slight pause. And then, she just couldn’t stop.
“Let me tell you the story,” said Mona. “When I was at home, I used to take my children everywhere and each time I did so, I would put the address on the GPS tracker on my mobile. I would then follow the directions while also tending to the children. My child, 3, knew this for he had seen me do it every time. When I used to video call them from the camp, he would say that all I needed to do was put the home address on the GPS tracker and drive back home.
“He couldn’t comprehend why I wasn’t coming back and why I was in the camp. He was keen to see his mother and I can’t tell you how difficult and painful it was. He felt I was lost and hence would keep asking me to put the address on the tracker and drive back home.
“Yes, I did call them soon after the match was over and showed them the medal. My daughter said now that I have won a big medal, the one that I was after all these months, I should soon go back and get a toy doll house for her!”
It can now be conjectured that she will be able to pay off her debts from the rewards the bronze will bring her way, and with more events to go, Paris 2024 could just be the making of Mona Agarwal. If that happens, it could well be that her son continues to feel that his mother has lost her way to the house yet again. However, much of India will feel that she has indeed found her mojo, and the shooting range is where she belongs.
“I am now convinced I can do it,” said Mona. “In fact, I was pleased I was able to push the champions and at one point made it to the top of the leaderboard in the final. I have to say this medal has given me a lot of satisfaction.”
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