In a moment of unparalleled triumph, Avani Lekhara has once again cemented her place in history by clinching a gold medal at the Paris Paralympics. The 22-year-old shooter from Jaipur delivered a stunning performance, dominating the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 category and further solidifying her status as one of India’s greatest para-athletes.

Lekhara's victory is not just a personal milestone but also a significant moment for India on the global stage. Her gold medal in Paris adds to her already impressive Paralympic record, following her breakthrough performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where she won a gold and a bronze, making her the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold.

In the final round, Lekhara showcased nerves of steel, consistently hitting near-perfect scores that left her competitors trailing. Her final score of 249.7 points set a new Paralympic record surpassing her old record of 249.6 set in the Tokyo Paralympics 2021, while Mona, who took up shooting sport in 2022, notched up 228.7 for the bronze.

Avani's journey to this pinnacle of success has been anything but easy. A car accident in 2012 left her paralyzed from the waist down, but it also ignited a fire within her. With the unwavering support of her family and coaches, Lekhara took up shooting, inspired by former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra. Her determination and relentless pursuit of excellence have made her a beacon of hope for many aspiring athletes.

Later in the day, Manish Narwal won the silver medal in the Men’s 10M Air Pistol SH1. Altogether, on Day 2 of the Paris Paralympics 2024, India had a glorious day, with three Paralympians winning medals for the country.