Avani Lekhara Wins 2nd Gold with New Paralympic Record; Mona Agarwal Claims Bronze
In the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 shooting event at the Paris Paralympics, India’s Avani Lekhara clinched her second gold medal, successfully defending her title from Tokyo. She shattered her own Paralympic record in the final on Friday. Additionally, Mona Agarwal earned a bronze medal in the same event.
A Golden Start for India at the Paris Paralympics
India kicked off the Paris Paralympics with a stellar performance as Avani Lekhara successfully defended her title in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, securing gold for the second consecutive Games. Lekhara set a new Paralympic record, surpassing her own mark from Tokyo 2020, and became the most decorated female Paralympic athlete from India.
In addition, India celebrated a second medal in shooting as Mona Agarwal, aged 36, won bronze in the same event. Just as Manu Bhaker’s achievement marked India’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Indian shooters have once again made history by opening the medal tally at the Paris Paralympics.
Avani Lekhara: India’s First Female Para-Athlete with Three Paralympic Medals
An avid fan of Abhinav Bindra, Avani Lekhara has made history by becoming the first female para-athlete from India to win three Paralympic medals. At just 22, she added to her Tokyo achievements—a gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 and a bronze in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1—by clinching gold in the same 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Paris Paralympics. She also made history in Tokyo as the first Indian female athlete to win a Paralympic gold.
Avani Tops a Thrilling Final
The final at Chateauroux – Final Range was a nail-biter. Avani Lekhara was in second place until the very last shot of the 8-woman final. South Korea’s Lee Yunri was leading and seemed poised to take the gold. However, Lee Yunri’s final shot scored a 6.8, while Avani delivered a 10.5, securing the gold with a score of 249.7—setting a new Paralympic Record. This surpassed her previous record of 249.6 set in Tokyo.
Mona Agarwal Secures Bronze in Thrilling Final
Mona Agarwal earned the bronze medal with a score of 228.7. The 36-year-old was in gold medal contention before the final elimination round. She delivered a strong performance with a 10.6 in her first shot of the last round, but a 10 in her final shot impacted her final standing, preventing a higher finish.
Avani Lekhara’s Gritty Journey to the Top
Avani Lekhara’s life took a dramatic turn in 2012 when a car accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. Despite this life-altering event, her father, Praveen Lekhara, remained steadfast in his support. In 2015, he introduced her to shooting at the Jagatpura Shooting Range in Jaipur, where Avani found a new passion.
Inspired by Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography, Avani began her rigorous training under coach Chandra Shekhar and later enlisted former air rifle Olympian Suma Shirur as her personal coach.
Avani’s dedication bore fruit when she won her first international medal—a bronze—at the 2017 World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup in Bangkok. This marked the beginning of a remarkable journey.
Her triumphs at the Tokyo Paralympics brought her national acclaim, and she continued to excel, achieving record-breaking performances at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and beyond.
