Top Indian shooter Avani Lekhara won gold in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 shooting at the Paris Paralympics on Friday, while compatriot Mona Agarwal won the bronze medal. In the women’s 10m air rifle final, Avani performed brilliantly and won the gold medal with a Paralympic record. With this, India’s medal account has been opened in the Paris Paralympics. India has reached the ninth position with two medals in the Paris Paralympic Games.
Avani Lekhara bettered her own Paralympic record of 249.6 from Tokyo 2020 with a score of 249.7. She became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. Avani 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. She won gold in the 10m air rifle and bronze in the 50m rifle 3 position at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Shital made a great start, came close to the world record and made it to the quarterfinals
Avani Lekhara managed to make it to the final by finishing second in the qualification of the women’s 10m air rifle final (SH1) at the Paris Paralympics on Friday. Her 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 shot 625.8 to finish behind Irina Shchetnik. Irina set a new record in the Paralympic qualification round with a score of 627.5. Two-time World Cup gold medallist Mona, competing in her first Paralympics, scored 623.1.
