Avani Likhara created history on Monday at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She became the first Indian shooter to win a Paralympic medal, she also became the first woman to win an individual gold medal in the country's history at the Paralympic. 19-year-old Avani Likhara made an impressive debut at Paralympic Games She created world record and setting a new Paralympic record with 249.6 in R2 women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final. The teenager, who suffered spinal cord injuries in a car accident in 2012, began shooting in 2015. Initially, her father introduced her to archery and shooting, but Avani Likhara wanted to make her mark on archery after reading Abinav Bindra's autobiography. And it was a special moment for Avani Likhara on Monday, as her idol, shooter great Abinav Bindra was among the first to congratulate her on winning the historic gold medal. "Gold it is! Brilliant display by @AvaniLekhara to win India its first Paralympic gold medal in shooting. Immensely proud ! Many Congratulations on your shot at history," Bindra wrote in a social media post. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Lekhara gold as a "really special moment for Indian sport." "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 endeavors," PM Modi said. Several sports stars joined the bandwagon to celebrate the Golden Girl of India from the Tokyo Paralympic Games.Gold it is! Brilliant display by @AvaniLekhara to win India its first Paralympic gold medal in shooting. Immensely proud ! Many Congratulations on your shot at history ! #Praise4Para #Tokyo2020— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 30, 2021Phenomenal 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, 2021It's a Golden Day!! #GoldenGirl @AvaniLekhara wins India's First medal in @ShootingPara & it's a #GOLD!!! Avani has equalled the World Record to achieve this feat! This is unparalleled, first Indian Woman in @Olympics or @Paralympics ever to win GOLD.#Praise4Para #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hxJoP1edCi— Paralympic India #Cheer4India #Praise4Para (@ParalympicIndia) August 30, 2021She has created history. The first ever woman from India to win a #Paralympics #Gold Wow #AvaniLekhara on the outstanding feat. Also equals the current WR to win the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final! #Tokyo2020 #ShootingParaSport pic.twitter.com/saehkl2tJt— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 30, 2021Also Read- India vs England: Wounds of 2014 hurt Virat Kohli again
Avani Lekhara followed her women's 10m air rifle standing (SH1) gold with a bronze medal in women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 on Friday. Lekhara was the first Indian woman to win Paralympic gold and now she is the first Indian woman to win two medals in the same edition of the Games. The 19-year-old finished fourth when the field fell in the last four and finished third with a decisive shot of 10.5. She finished with a score of 445.9 while Ukraine's Iryna Schetnik, whose rifle finals world record Lekhara earlier equaled on the way to her gold in the event, finished fourth with 435.3. China's Cuiping Zhang won the gold medal with 457.9 points at the Paralympic Games, while Germany's Natasha Hiltrop scored 457.1 to win the silver medal. Lekhara ranked sixth in the final stage of the competition. She did well on the standing series during qualification and continued down the same path, gradually working her way up to the bronze medal challenge. He then swapped positions with Schetnik before taking third place in the final stages of the competition.Also Read- Shooter Avani Lekhara First Indian Woman To Win Gold At Paralympics She previously won the country's first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the women's 10-meter air rifle. She shot a total score of 249.6 in the final, which equaled the world record set by Shchetnik in December 2018. The 19-year-old recovered well after a slow start. The Tokyo Paralympic Games marked India's best performance in a single edition of the Games, easily surpassing the country's best previous performance of four at the 2016 Rio Games. Lekhara and javelin thrower Sumit Antel won gold, while high jumper Praveen Kumar won India sixth silver medal on Friday. Bhavina Patel, javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya, high jumpers Mariyappan Thangavellu and Nishad Kumar are the other Indian silver medalists.Javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar, high jumper Sharad Kumar and thrower Singhraj won bronze medal..@AvaniLekhara, you beauty! #IND's ace shooter claims a second medal in R8 - Women's 50m Rifle 3P SH1, winning #Bronze with a score of 445.9! 12 medals for ! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ShootingParaSport pic.twitter.com/sJ51rQpky1— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 3, 2021Meet The phenomenal young Legend!! With this #Bronze medal in 50M Rifle 3P SH1 just days after her Gold, @AvaniLekhara becomes the First Ever Indian woman to win 2 medals in the same Games @paralympics!!! #Praise4Para@shootingparasport #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/hzll4lftNp— Paralympic India #Cheer4India #Praise4Para (@ParalympicIndia) September 3, 2021Also Read- England vs India, 4th Test Day 1: Shardul Thakur breaks Ian Botham's record, hits fastest Test fifty in England
