Inspired by the achievements of Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, Avani transitioned to competitive shooting in 2015 and a decade later she has become a celebrated para shooter.
Avani Lekhara, India's Paralympic shooting sensation, continued her reign of dominance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
PM Modi congratulated Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal for winning medals in the women's 10m air rifle final at the ongoing Paris Paralympics
Congratulate shooter Avani Lekhara -- the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
Avani Lekhara missed out on a second medal at the ongoing Paralympic Games and finished fifth after putting up a strong fight in the final of the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition in Paris on Tuesday.
Avani broke her own world record of 249.6 to secure her a spot at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
A trainee of former Olympian shooter Suma Shirur, Avani Lekhara became India's first woman gold medallist at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo on Monday when she shot a total of 249.6 in the 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1.
Indian shooter Avani Lekhara said that she felt nice and happy after winning the gold medal at the Paris Paralympics.
Winner of the gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago, Avani Lekhara shot a remarkable 249.7, breaking her own Paralympic record of 249.6 set in Tokyo.
The 20-year-old Lekhara has already won the R2 - Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 gold with a world record effort on Day 1, and ensured India a quota for Paris 2024 Paralympics Games.
India schedule for the sixth day of the Paris Paralympics on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old shooter won gold in R-2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event on Monday before taking the 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 bronze on Friday.
Lekhara put up a strong challenge in the R2 - women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 final but fell short in the end, losing to Ukraine's Iryna Shchetnik by just 0.3 points.
Shooter Avani Lekhara scripted history on Monday as she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, firing her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event in Tokyo.
For her a competition, be it the World Cup or the Paralympic Games, is just an extension of her training regimen, which has to be followed to the tee.
Sania Mirza, the tennis icon, made a dazzling entry at the fifth Indian Sports Honours event, donning a stunning floral blazer suit.
India's medal tally at the ongoing Paralympics has gone up to 27, with six gold medals, nine silver medals, and 12 bronze medals.
How India's athletes fared at the Paris Paralympic Games on Friday.
The evening was graced by the presence of Paralympic athletes Navdeep Singh and Avani Lekhara, whose inspiring achievements have brought immense pride to the nation.
A car accident in 2012 left Avani Lekhara wheelchair-bound but on Monday the shooter felt 'on top of the world' after becoming the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal.
'I take one day at a time. I just want to give my best and stay in the present. I do not like to sit on the past glory or think far ahead. For this year, major competitions are done so the focus is on Paris Paralympics and winning more medals for the country.'
Following is India's schedule on Friday, Day 2 of the Paris Paralympics: (All timings in IST):
'...when I read Abhinav Bindra Sir's autobiography, it really inspired me, because he gave his 100 per cent to what he did and he won India's first individual gold medal.'
He congratulated each medal winner and said they had made the country proud with their performances.
Check out the schedule for India's athletes at the Paralympics in Paris on Saturday.
India's para-athletes, defying physical limitations, showcased exceptional determination in their recent Paralympic campaign, contributing to a historic medal haul of 29.
Star Indian pistol shooter Manu Bhaker was named the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year, following her outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics.
India rewrote several records and unlocked some new firsts at the Paralympic Games.
India have sent an 84-strong contingent of para-athletes, the largest ever in the country's history -- a heady mix of youth and experience, for the Paralympic Games, starting in Paris on Wednesday.
Flag bearer Tek Chand will lead the Indian contingent -- India will be represented by 54 para athletes, the biggest ever contingent in the history of the Games.
India's Nishad Kumar clinched his second successive silver medal at the Paralympics with a season's best effort of 2.04 metres in the men's High Jump T47 category at the in Paris on Sunday.
Swaroop Unhalkar finished 14th in the men's 10m air rifle standing (SH1) qualification round to miss the final at the Paralympic Games.
The last batch of India's triumphant Paralympic athletes, including shooting sensation Avani Lekhara and shuttler-cum-bureaucrat Suhas Yathiraj, returned home to a rousing reception on Monday, their supporters and families thronging the New Delhi airport for a glimpse of the heroes.
Shooter Avani Lekhara crashed out in the qualification round of the mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 event at the Tokyo Games on Wednesday.
The Paralympians have also been feted by the government with sports minister Mandaviya handing out Rs 75 lakh to the gold-medallists, Rs 50 lakh to the silver winners and Rs 30 lakh to the athletes who bagged bronze in the Games.
Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Mirabai Chanu have joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to combat obesity, emphasizing the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
In the individual event, Rahul Jakhar (21 points) bagged a bronze medal, finishing behind Kim Jungnam of South Korea and Olseken Denysiuk of Ukraine.
With this, India now has 12 medals and the fourth bronze at the 2020 Paralympics.
"Besides, three para shooters -- Singharaj, Rahul Jhakhar and Deepinder Singh (all para pistol shooters) and two coaches Subhas Rana (national coach) and Vivek Saini (assistant coach) did not get their visas.
President Droupadi Murmu turned 66 on Thursday, June 20, 2024, and spent the birthday morning at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities in New Delhi.
