India’s shooter Avani Lekhara has done wonders in Paris Paralympics 2024. Now she won the gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle (SH1) event on Friday (30 August). Avani won the gold medal with a Paralympic record. India’s Mona Agarwal won the bronze medal in the same event. With these two medals, India’s account has been opened in the current Paralympic Games. India has one gold and one bronze medal to its name.
Avani Lekhara was successful in making it to the finals by finishing second in the qualification. Compatriot Mona Agarwal, who has been in great form for the last one year, also qualified for the final of eight shooters by finishing fifth. Defending champion Avani scored 625.8 and was behind Irina Shchetnik. Irina set a new record in the Paralympic qualification round with a score of 627.5.
Mona, a two-time World Cup gold medallist competing in her first Paralympics, scored 623.1. Avni became the country’s most talked-about para athlete after winning a gold medal in the SH1 category at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago. Avni won gold in the 10m air rifle and bronze in the 50m rifle three position at the Tokyo Paralympics. Avni uses a wheelchair since suffering a serious lower body injury in a car accident. The SH1 category in shooting includes shooters whose movement of arms, lower torso, legs is affected or who have a disorder in their arms or legs.