'Her journey has been inspiring': Manu Bhaker congratulates Avani Lekhara for winning gold at Paris Paralympics 2024
Avani Lekhara was left with complete paraplegia in 2012 at the age of 11 following a car accident. She ventured into sports at the encouragement of her father and started by training in archery. However, in 2015, she switched to shooting, in which she found unprecedented success.
India's Avani Lekhara on Friday bagged a gold medal with a Games record in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 at the Paris Paralympics. Lekhara, the defending champion, bettered her previous record set at the Tokyo Games to finish at the top in the eight-player competition. She finished with a total of 249.7 to achieve the new Paralympic record in the category. Her previous best was 249.6 at the Tokyo Paralympics.
CREDIT: ANI
Continuing her success from Tokyo
The 22-year-old from Jaipur, Rajasthan, had scripted history at Tokyo 2020 by becoming the first Indian woman to clinch a pair of medals at a single edition of the Paralympics. She won the 10m air rifle gold and the 50m rifle three-position bronze in the SH1 category at the Tokyo Paralympics.
PARALYMPIC CHAMPION, BABY ??
¡ª Avani Lekhara ???? ????? PLY (@AvaniLekhara) August 30, 2024
Elated to have defended my Gold Medal from Tokyo 2020. Work not done yet as there¡¯s 2 more events to follow. Focused now on doing my best in them.
Thank you for all the wishes! ?? pic.twitter.com/owH9xkkLB7
Accident that changed her life
Lekhara was left with complete paraplegia in 2012 at the age of 11 following a car accident. She ventured into sports at the encouragement of her father and started by training in archery. However, in 2015, she switched to shooting, in which she found unprecedented success.
CREDIT: ANI
In 2021, she was awarded the Khel Ratna, the highest sporting honor in India, and in 2022, she received the Padma Shri.
Honoured and grateful to be awarded the Padma Shri. This award is a testament to not only my efforts, but the sacrifices of my family and the support of everyone involved in my career helping me achieve all I have. I look forward to representing the country with the same passion! https://t.co/Y7FgPKBLlU
¡ª Avani Lekhara ???? ????? PLY (@AvaniLekhara) March 21, 2022
'Happy to win gold for India'
Lekhara, who said she was happy to win another medal for the country, added that she has already shifted her focus to the next events¡ªwomen's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 and mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1.
CREDIT: ANI
"I am happy that I was able to win the gold for my country. It broke the barriers for other women in the country; they can look up and see, 'Okay, women can also win gold in India,' and I am grateful that I was the first one to achieve that," she said.
Inspiring journey: Manu Bhaker
Double Olympic medalist Manu Bhaker congratulated Lekhara and said her journey has been very inspiring.
A big congratulations to Avani Lekhara on her incredible Gold medal achievement and to Mona Agarwal for clinching the Bronze at the Paris Paralympics! Your achievements are a testament to perseverance and talent. Well done! ??? #Paralympics #Paris2024 #WomenInSports¡ pic.twitter.com/XKKkZtDZsV
¡ª Manu Bhaker?? (@realmanubhaker) August 30, 2024
"Avani's journey has been very inspiring... and the journey of other Paralympians as well. They have overcome their challenges and won medals for the country. We all need to learn from this... I feel very proud... Congratulations to Avani," Manu said.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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