Avani Lekhara Makes History as First Indian Woman to Win Two Gold Medals at Paralympics
On Friday, Avani Lekhara made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympics by successfully defending her title in the women’s 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1 event. This remarkable achievement positions her as the first Indian woman to earn two gold medals in the history of the Paralympic Games.
In the final round, Ms. Lekhara scored an impressive 249.7 points, setting a new Paralympic record that surpassed the former record of 249.6, which she herself established during her debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games three years prior. The 22-year-old para shooter clinched the gold medal, outperforming the Republic of Korea’s Lee Yunri, who secured the silver medal with a score of 246.8, and her compatriot Mona Agarwal, who, having missed the gold medal round, finished with a score of 228.7 to take home the bronze medal. This event marked India’s initial medal wins at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and represented a significant milestone as it was the first instance of India achieving a double podium finish in the same event at the Paralympic Games.
Following her victory, Ms. Lekhara expressed her elation, stating, “It feels very nice to win another gold medal for my country and to defend my title, very nice. It is great motivation to have (Mona Agarwal) on the podium.” Avani Lekhara joins the esteemed company of Devendra Jhajharia, becoming only the second Indian athlete to secure two gold medals at the Paralympic Games. This achievement also marks India’s 10th gold medal overall in the history of the event.
Earlier in the competition, Ms. Lekhara qualified with a score of 625.8, placing second, while Ms. Agarwal qualified in fifth position with a score of 623.1. It is noteworthy that in the SH1 rifle shooting classification, competitors are permitted to support the weight of their rifles independently, as they possess leg impairments, including amputation or paraplegia.
Looking forward, Avani Lekhara is set to participate in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event and the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 event during the ongoing Paralympic Games in Paris. Her remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration and source of pride for India as it continues to make significant strides in the realm of para sports.
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