India kicked off the Paris Paralympics with a spectacular performance. Avani Lekhara successfully defended her title in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, securing gold for the second consecutive Paralympic Games. With her remarkable achievement, Avani surpassed her own Paralympic record from Tokyo 2020 and has now become India’s most decorated female Paralympic athlete.
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In addition to Avani’s gold, India also celebrated a bronze medal in the event, earned by Mona Agarwal, 36.
In a nail-biting conclusion at the Chateauroux – Final Range, Avani Lekhara emerged victorious in a gripping 8-woman final. Avani was trailing in second place, with South Korea’s Lee Yunri holding the top spot and seemingly poised to claim the gold. However, the competition took a dramatic turn in the final moments. Lee, who had been leading, faltered with a score of 6.8 on her last shot, while Avani delivered a stunning 10.5, securing the gold medal with a score of 249.7—a new Paralympic Record. This remarkable achievement surpasses her previous Paralympic record of 249.6, set three years ago in Tokyo.
Mona Agarwal, who had been in contention for gold earlier, claimed the bronze medal with a score of 228.7. The 36-year-old shooter was in the lead before the final elimination round. Despite shooting an impressive 10.6 in the penultimate shot, a score of 10 on her last attempt dropped her to third place, costing her a higher finish.
