Tokyo Paralympics 2021: Avani Lekhara is feeling on top of the world as she becomes the first para-athlete to win gold in shooting. The 19-year old shooter clinched her first medal in the 10m rifle standing SH1 event. She has now reached the world record level by finishing the event with 249.6 scores.
“I can’t describe this feeling, it’s unexplainable,” said Avani on winning the medal. With this, India’s total medal tally reached 4 in the Tokyo event.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Avani Lekhara praising her sport spirit and giving best wishes for the future.
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
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, 2021
Congratulations @AvaniLekhara on such an amazing performance at your first #Paralympics and for giving us the opportunity to listen to the national anthem again in Tokyo! 🇮🇳 https://t.co/RwGqs7fPNI
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) August 30, 2021
Congratulations Avani for winning 🥇 for India 🇮🇳 in shooting at the #Paralympics What a way to start a Monday! @ParalympicIndia #AvaniLekhara pic.twitter.com/Cs30f7NstU
— Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) August 30, 2021
Congratulations #AvaniLekhara on winning the gold medal 🥇 in women’s 10m AR Standing SH1 Final.
An achievement out of sheer perseverance. Inspirational 👏#Tokyoparalympics2020 pic.twitter.com/o7xGrP2wYW— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) August 30, 2021
She has a disability in her lower body after an accident in 2012 causing traumatic paraplegia. But the World No.5 has not let any disability becomes an obstacle in her dreams. This is the first gold at Paralympics 2021, however, she had also won gold in Rio Paralympics in 2020.