Avani Lekhara won Gold Medal in Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1event (Shooting) on Friday, winning first Gold for India at Paralympics Paris 2024.
By winning Gold in Rifle Shooting, Avani created history by becoming the first Indian to win consecutive Golds at the Paralympics. She won a Gold Medal even at the last Paralympics held in Tokyo in 2020.
While Avani Lekhara won the Gold Medal, India’s joy only increased as Mona Agarwal won the bronze medal in the same event.
With gold and bronze medals in Rifle Shooting, India’s medal tally stood at 4 by the end of Friday.
Avani Lekhara is an inspiration:
As India rejoices Avani Lekhara’s victory, Yupbeat.com brings you the inspirational story of a Paralympian shooter.
Born on 8th November 2001 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the cherub-faced Avani Lekhara endured a bitter fate, as the lower part of her body got paralyzed in a car accident.
How unfair has God been to her? Avani suffered a life-shattering accident in 2012 at the age of just 11. But that did not let her stop from creating her own destiny.
Inspired by celebrated shooter Abhinav Bindra, the young Avani took to para-shooting in 2015. Owing to her determination, discipline, and resilience, she soon made a mark for herself in the shooting arena.
Avani Lekhara first rose to fame when she won the first Gold Medal at 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. A year later she created history by becoming the first Indian woman paralympian to win two medals, when she won bronze medal in Women’s 50m air rifle standing event in September 2021.
Now, she has rewritten history by winning her second consecutive Gold Medal in the Paris Paralympics in 2024.
Impressed by Avani Lekhara’s inspirational journey, the Indian Government honored her with the Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting honor, in 2021.
Indian Government had also respected Avani Lekhara with Padma Shri in 2022.
Avani Lekhara has also been felicitated and honored by several reputed private organizations. BBC India chose her as the Changemaker of the Year in 2022.
For all those who are disappointed or depressed by life’s problems, Avani Lekhara’s life filled with struggles and achievements is an inspirational lesson.
