India's shooter Avani Lekhara has made a remarkable achievement at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Avani clinched the gold medal in the women's 10-meter air rifle (SH1) event on Friday, August 30th. She won the gold with a Paralympic record. In the same event, India's Mona Agarwal secured the bronze medal. These two medals mark the opening of India's account in the current Paralympic Games with one gold and one bronze.
The First Indian Woman to Achieve This
22-year-old Avani scored 249.7 points in the finals, setting a Paralympic record. Bronze medalist Mona scored 228.7 points. Avani also won a gold medal in the same event at the Tokyo Paralympics (2020), successfully defending her title. South Korea's Lee Yunri won the silver medal in this event. At the Tokyo Paralympics, Avani also won a bronze medal in the 50-meter rifle three positions. Avani is the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paralympics.
Source: aajtak
Avani Lekhara successfully qualified for the finals by placing second in the qualification round. Mona Agarwal, who has been in excellent form over the past year, also qualified for the finals, finishing in fifth place among the top eight shooters. Defending champion Avani scored 625.8 and was behind Irina Shetnik's 627.5 score, which set a new record in the Paralympic qualification round.
What is the SH1 Category?
Competing in her first Paralympics, two-time World Cup gold medalist Mona scored 623.1. After winning the gold medal in the SH1 category at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago, Avani emerged as the most celebrated para-athlete in the country. Following a severe injury to her lower body in a car accident, Avani uses a wheelchair. The SH1 category in shooting includes athletes whose arm, lower torso, and leg movement is affected, or who have impairments in their arms or legs.
