Avani Lekhara has made history once again by becoming the first Indian athlete to successfully defend her Paralympic gold medal. Competing in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, Avani clinched her second consecutive gold at the Paris Paralympics, following her triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Her remarkable performance broke her own Paralympic record, further establishing her as India’s most decorated female Paralympic athlete.
In addition to Avani’s gold, India also secured a bronze medal in the same event, with 36-year-old Mona Agarwal delivering a strong performance. Much like the Paris Olympics, where Manu Bhaker won the country’s first medal, Indian shooters have once again opened the medal tally for India at the Paralympics.
Avani, a fan of Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, has now become the first Indian female para-athlete to win three Paralympic medals. At the Tokyo Games, she won a gold medal in the same event and a bronze in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1.
Thrilling Final at Paris Paralympics
The final at Chateauroux – Final Range was a nail-biter, with Avani trailing in second place until the very last shot. South Korea’s Lee Yunri was leading and seemed poised to take the gold. However, a final shot of 6.8 by Lee allowed Avani, who shot 10.5, to secure the top spot. Avani finished with a score of 249.7, setting a new Paralympic record, surpassing her previous record of 249.6 from Tokyo 2020.
Mona Agarwal, who had been in the gold medal position before the final elimination round, finished with a bronze, scoring 228.7. A 10.6 in her penultimate shot kept her in contention, but a 10 in the final shot dropped her to third place.
Avani’s Journey to Success
Avani’s journey to becoming a Paralympic champion began in 2012 after a car accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this life-changing event, her father, Praveen Lekhara, introduced her to shooting in 2015 at the Jagatpura Shooting Range in Jaipur. Inspired by Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography, Avani trained under coach Chandra Shekhar and later, former air rifle Olympian Suma Shirur.
Her hard work paid off when she won her first international medal, a bronze, at the 2017 World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup in Bangkok. From there, she continued to achieve success, including her record-breaking performances at the Tokyo Paralympics and the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, solidifying her status as a national hero.
key points:
- Historic Achievement: Avani Lekhara becomes the first Indian to defend a Paralympic gold medal, winning her second consecutive gold in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Paris Paralympics.
- Record-Breaking Performance: Avani broke her own Paralympic record from Tokyo 2020, scoring 249.7 in the final to secure the gold medal.
- Additional Medal for India: Mona Agarwal, another Indian shooter, won a bronze medal in the same event with a score of 228.7.
- Thrilling Final: Avani was in second place until the last shot, overtaking South Korea’s Lee Yunri, who faltered with a 6.8 in her final attempt.
- Avani’s Journey: Avani’s life changed after a car accident in 2012 left her paralyzed. She started shooting in 2015, inspired by Abhinav Bindra, and trained under coaches Chandra Shekhar and Suma Shirur.
- Previous Success: Avani had previously won a gold and a bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, making her the first Indian female para-athlete to win three Paralympic medals.
- Continued Success: Avani’s achievements include a record-breaking performance at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, further establishing her as India’s most decorated female Paralympic athlete.
