Avani Lekhara (born 8 November 2001) is an Indian rifle shooter.[3] She is a double gold medalist at the Paralympics having won the 10m rifle event the 2020 Paralympics as well as the 2024 Paralympics. She made history by winning two back-to-back golds. She also won the bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event at the 2020 Games, thus being the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single Paralympic Games.[4] Lekhara is a two-time gold and one-time silver medalist at the Para World Cup.[5]
Lekhara began shooting in 2015, inspired by former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and has since won several national and international titles.[12]
She is coached by Chandra Shekhar.
Paralympic career
She is the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal.[13][14][15] Lekhara won India's first gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. With a score of 249.6 points in the final event, she set a Paralympic record and tied the world record.[16]
On 3 September 2021, she became the first Indian female Paralympian to win two medals in Paralympics history after claiming bronze in women's 50m air rifle standing event.[17][18]
In Paralympics 2024 at Paris, she won a gold in women's 10m air rifle standing SH1. She became the first Indian women athlete to win three paralympic medals.[19]
In popular culture
Avani has appeared in the Kalki presents 'My Indian Life' for young Indian adults in the twenty-first century examined by Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin. True stories from India, sometimes brutal, sometimes inspiring. The BBC World Service broadcasts the program.[20]
^Kartik, RJ (7 October 2021). "Avani Lekhara Interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=logo}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
