With a score of 249.6 to win the gold medal, the Indian shooter created a Paralympics record and equalled the world record.
Topping the podium in women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing (SH1) event at the Tokyo Paralympics on Monday, Shooter Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. With a score of 249.6 to win the gold medal, the Indian shooter created a Paralympics record and equalled the world record. China’s Cuiping Zhang won silver with 248.9 and Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik took bronze with a total of 227.5. While Lekhara equalled Iryna Shchetnik’s world record that was set in 2018, it was also India’s first para gold in shooting at the Paralympics.
After swimmer Murlikant Petkar in 1972, javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia in 2004 and 2016 and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan in 2016, Lekhara became the fourth Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
Wishes and tributes poured in for Lekhara with Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the first to congratulate the Indian shooter.
“Phenomenal performance @AvaniLekhara! Congratulations on winning a hard-earned and well-deserved Gold, made possible due to your industrious nature and passion towards shooting. This is truly a special moment for Indian sports. Best wishes for your future endeavours,” tweeted PM Modi.
Phenomenal performance @AvaniLekhara! Congratulations on winning a hard-earned and well-deserved Gold, made possible due to your industrious nature and passion towards shooting. This is truly a special moment for Indian sports. Best wishes for your future endeavours.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 30, 2021
President Ramnath also congratulated Lekhara on her feat. “Another daughter of India makes us proud!
Congratulations to Avani Lekhara for creating history and becoming the first Indian woman to win a Gold at #Paralympics. India is elated by your stellar performance! Our tricolour flies high at the podium due to your phenomenal feat” he said.
Another daughter of India makes us proud!
Congratulations to Avani Lekhara for creating history and becoming the first Indian woman to win a Gold at #Paralympics. India is elated by your stellar performance! Our tricolour flies high at the podium due to your phenomenal feat.— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 30, 2021
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