India’s Avani Lekhara created history on Friday by becoming first Indian woman to win two gold medals at Paralympics. She won gold in the Women’s 10m air rifle final (SH1) at ongoing Paris Paralympics.
Avani, who is wheelchair-bound following a car accident at age 11, showcased her remarkable skill by shooting a 625.8 in the qualifying round, securing her spot just behind Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik, who set a new Paralympic Qualification Record with 627.5.
Besides defending her gold, Lekhara also improved her Paralympics record of 249.6 that she had set three years ago with 249.7.
The two-time World Cup gold medalist Mona Agarwal, in her Paralympics debut, secured bronze with a qualifying score of 623.1, marking a strong start for India’s medal tally at the Games. The SH1 category features shooters with impaired movement in their arms, lower trunk, legs, or missing limbs.
(With agency inputs)
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