India’s medal tally at the Paris Paralympics began with a brilliant performance in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle (SH1) final. Avani Lekhara won the gold medal and Mona Agarwal secured the bronze on Friday.
Avani Lekhara, the reigning champion who previously won gold at the Tokyo Games, showed her exceptional skills by scoring 625.8 points in the qualifying rounds, just behind Iryna Shchetnik, who broke the Paralympic qualification record with a score of 627.5.
Meanwhile, Mona Agarwal, competing in her first Paralympics and two-time World Cup gold medallist, posted a score of 623.1. Despite challenging for gold at the start of the tournament, Agarwal’s last 10 in the final elimination round cost her the chance to finish higher.
This latest victory confirms Ava’s remarkable journey since a car accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 11. She made history in 2021 by becoming the first female shooter from India to win medals in shooting at the Tokyo Paralympics. The SH1 category in shooting is intended for athletes with impaired movements of the arms, lower limbs and legs or for those who are missing limbs.
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Avani Lekhara set a new Paralympic record
Avani, who was in second place until the final shoot-off, scored a remarkable 10.5 to propel her to victory with a final score of 249.7, securing the gold medal and setting a new Paralympic record. This surpassed her previous record of 249.6, set three years ago during the Tokyo Games.
Yunri, who was leading the competition, faltered on her final attempt and scored just 6.8, paving the way for Avani to triumph.
Avani Lekhara’s rise to the top of the shooting sport is a testament to resilience and determination. After a car accident in 2012 that left her paralyzed from the waist down, Avani faced a critical turning point in her life. With the unwavering support of her father Praveen Lekhara, she discovered her passion for shooting in 2015 at the Jagatpura shooting range in Jaipur.
