19-year-old Avani Lekhara from Jaipur has scripted history at the Tokyo Paralympics. She bagged the prestigious gold medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event on Monday, reports Hindustan Times. With this achievement, she has become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
This is an @AvaniLekhara appreciation post ♥️#IND's first woman to win a #Paralympics #gold at just 19 years of age, equalling a WORLD RECORD on her debut – Wow! 🤯#Tokyo2020 #ShootingParaSport pic.twitter.com/WAiKy3OCuR
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
This is India’s 4th medal at the Tokyo Paralympics so far. According to NDTV, Avani Lekhara created a Paralympics record and equalled the world record with a score of 249.6. What’s even more remarkable is that this was her Paralympics debut!
#IND's national anthem echoes across the arena as Avani Lekhara grabs a historic #Gold for her nation! 💪#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ShootingParaSport @AvaniLekharapic.twitter.com/Agv5Wptrfi
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
“I can’t describe this feeling. I’m feeling like I’m on top of the world. It’s unexplainable. I’m so happy I could be the one to contribute to it. Hopefully, there’s a lot of medals more to come,” Avani said after her win.
According to Firstpost, Avani had suffered a devastating car accident in 2012 which left her paralyzed and wheelchair-bound. However, even though the incident took a toll on her physically, it wasn’t able to break her courage. After reading Olympics gold-medalist Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography, she was inspired to pursue shooting. With a bit of push from her father, Avani took up the sport.
Since 2015, she has been winning medals. In her first Rajasthan State Championship, she won bronze. This was followed by a silver medal at the IPC Para Shooting World Cup in 2017 and at the 2019 Para Shooting World Cup in Osijek, Croatia. In March this year, she won gold at the 1st National Para-shooting championships.
Soon, congratulations started pouring in on Twitter. Several celebrities, journalists, sportspersons, officers, etc. extended their good wishes to her and expressed their happiness. Have a look:
She 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, 2021
Amazing Avani wins🥇for 🇮🇳 !
A historic achievement as she becomes the only woman in Olympics & Paralympics to win a gold !
• Shooting in 10m AR Standing SH1 Final
• Score of 249.6 creating a Paralympic Record
• Equalling the World Record#Praise4Para @AvaniLekhara pic.twitter.com/Md7pfLX8t2— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 30, 2021
Congratulations #AvaniLekhara for hitting the bullseye 🎯and creating history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a #Paralympics gold medal 🏅What a debut! #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/zBzCWGFm7X
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) 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
What a historic feat by #AvaniLekhara on becoming the first ever Indian women to win a #Paralympics Gold. A landmark ocassion in Indian sports.
And with #YogeshKathuniya delivering an outstanding performance to bring home a Silver, India now has 5 medals in the #TokyoParalympics pic.twitter.com/CQiwDjAH82— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 30, 2021
GOLD IT IS! As a coach couldn’t have been any more proud of @AvaniLekhara and her performance today! India’s first woman to win a gold medal at Olympics or #Paralympics & with a world record. Surely more to come from her in the future too! #Praise4Para@ParalympicIndia @Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/LJMC1wambf
— Suma Shirur OLY (@SumaShirur) August 30, 2021
Heartiest Congratulations to @AvaniLekhara for bagging the Gold 🥇 in women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1.
India is proud of you .👏👏👏👏#AvaniLekhara #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #SHOOTING pic.twitter.com/cP7rR2zuGL
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) August 30, 2021
Congratulations to @AvaniLekhara for winning the gold medal 🥇 … #shooting #TokyoOlympics2020 #TokyoParalympics 👍🇮🇳… #JaiHind https://t.co/o71lLTPqmt
— Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) August 30, 2021
Story of grit, determination & excellence. #AvaniLekhara congratulations , we are so proud of your efforts . Champions #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/GBmnfiBvcP
— Chaitanya K Prasad (@Chatty111Prasad) August 30, 2021
Congratulations Golden Girl #AvaniLekhara ji.
पूरे देश को आप पर गर्व है।#paralympics #Gold pic.twitter.com/se8bOzCAiR— Bajrang Punia 🇮🇳 (@BajrangPunia) August 30, 2021
IT’S A GOLD FOR 🇮🇳 🥇
19 year old #AvaniLekhara has created history, by winning 1st ever gold medal in shooting at the #Paralympics
Congratulations @AvaniLekhara for the golden performance, Country is super proud of you.
Best wishes for your future endeavours. pic.twitter.com/eYAi1E2wRa
— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) August 30, 2021
This is the true Power of #YoungIndia 🇮🇳#AvaniLekhara becomes 1st Indian Woman to Win #Gold in #Paralympics with A Record 🙌🏻
Even Sky is not the Limit for Our Girls 👏🏻
Keep Rocking the Star 🌟 @AvaniLekhara #WomenPower ❤️ #Shooting #ParalympicsTokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/gMvUFsgtAi— Sonal Goel IAS (@sonalgoelias) August 30, 2021
Congratulations, Avani! The country is so proud! 🙂