Avani Lekhara, the Tokyo Paralympics champion in para-shooting, has risen to the top of the world rankings in two events. As per the latest rankings, Avani becomes no.1 in both the R2 – 10M Air Rifle Women’s SH1 and R8 – 50M Rifle 3 Positions Women’s events.
Lekhara tweeted on June 28, “Very happy to have achieved the Number 1 World Ranking in both the R2 – 10M Air Rifle Women’s SH1 and R8 – 50M Rifle 3 Positions Women’s events. Immensely motivated by this achievement.”
First Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold
The 20-year-old rifle shooter has created history becoming the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals in 2021 at the Tokyo Paralympics by claiming the top honours in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event and a bronze in the 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 event. She had become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold. She was also conferred the prestigious Khel Ratna award in 2021.
Lekhara returned to action earlier this month at the Para Shooting World Cup in Chateauroux, France, where she won gold with a world record score of 250.6 in R2 – women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. The para-shooting team finished second in the medal tally amongst 51 countries. They returned home with six gold, five silver and one bronze medal.
Moreover, she broke her own world record of 249.6 in Chateauroux World Cup that she set at Tokyo in the final and also secured a quota for India at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in R2 – women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.
Qualified for the 2024 Paralympic games
Lekhara recently qualified for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris courtesy of her performance in the Para Shooting World Cup.
