Skip to main content

India’s Avani Lekhara becomes the first Indian woman in history to win a Paralympic Gold medal in shooting for the country

Prime Minister congratulates Avani Lekhara for winning Tokyo Paralympics gold medal
Sports Minister Shri Anurag Thakur also wished para shooter Lekhara on her  historic achievement

Avani Lekhara, 19-year-old para shooter, made history on Monday by winning the elusive Tokyo Paralympic Games gold. Competing in her maiden Paralympics, Avani shot 249.6 points in the R2 women’s 10m air rifle SH1 category for a Paralympic Record and equal the World Record.

Earlier, Avani who works as an Assistant Conservator of Forests in Rajasthan and trains at the JDA Shooting Range in Jaipur, shot 621.7 points to finish seventh in qualification and secure a place in the final. She has been wheelchair-bound since a road accident in 2012. The school topper believes life is not about holding good cards but playing well with those one holds.

“Phenomenal performance Avani! 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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Sports Minister Shri Anurag Thakur also wished para shooter Lekhara on her achievement."Amazing Avani winsFirst place medal. 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," Shri Thakur wrote in his tweet.

Avani has won many World Cup medals since 2017 including a Silver with a Junior World Record in R2 at the WSPS World Cup 2017, bronze at the WSPS World Cup Bangkok 2017, silver in the WSPS World Cup in Osijek, Croatia 2019 and silver in the WSPS World Cup Al-Ain 2021. She won the Tokyo Paralympics quota in February 2019 in the UAE.

Since 2017, Government has supported Avani by including her in the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) besides funding her training through the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC). Thanks to such support, she has competed in 12 international competitions, attended National Coaching Camps with sports science support along with sports kit. She also got financial assistance to instal a computerised digital target at home, Air Rifle, ammunition and accessories.

Avani will be in action again in the R3 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 event, along with Siddhartha Babu and Deepak, on September 1. She will also take part in the R8 Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 on September 3 as well as the R6 Mixed 50m Air Rifle prone SH1 event, alongside Siddhartha and Deepak, on September 5.

Avani Lekhara becomes the first Indian woman to win gold medal at the Paralympics; Makes our nation proud! She expresses her gratitude towards the Govt, SAI, dedicates Gold medal to the people of India


President of India Ramnath Kovind has congratulated saying "Another daughter of India makes us proud! Congratulations to Avani Lekhara for creating history and becoming the first Indian woman to win a Gold at #Paralympics. India is elated by your stellar performance! Our tricolour flies high at the podium due to your phenomenal feat."

Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar Congrats "Congratulations #AvaniLekhara for hitting the bullseye Direct hitand creating history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a #Paralympics gold medal Sports medalWhat a debut! #Tokyo2020"

TOP Pageant News Now

Maria Gigante was crowned Universal Woman 2024 on March 22nd: Check LIVE Stream

Sofia Veron was crowned Reina Latina Internacional 2024 on March 21st: Check Streams and Check Results

Streaming Now Universal Woman 2024 on March 22nd from Cambodia: Check Results

Miss Botswana 2024 Final on March 23rd at the Royal Aria

Nine Contestants are Vying The Miss Gibraltar 2024 Crown at Final on March 23rd

Miss Beauty of Zeeland 2024 LIVE Stream on March 23rd from the Theater de Mythe in Goes

Miss Face of Cameroon / Miss Grand Cameroon 2024 Final on March 24th

Mister & Miss Supranational Cuba 2024 Final on March 24th at CUZ Miami Venue in Doral

Miss Mesoamérica International 2024 Final on March 24th in El Salvador

Miss Universe Netherlands 2024 Contestants announcement on March 24th

Miss Grand US Virgin Islands 2024 Final on March 25th

Miss Louisiana USA & Miss Louisiana Teen USA 2024 Dates are March 29th-30th

Miss Supranational Botswana 2024 on new date April 6th with Top 12 out of 30 Contestants

Miss Teen Universe South Africa 2024 Registration Deadline is March 20th

Miss Universe Laos Accepting Registrations, Deadline March 22nd

Miss Lesotho 2024 Registration Opens, Deadline March 31st, Final September 7th

Miss Supranational Perú 2024 Final on April 2

Miss Danmark 2024 Castings on March 23-24 and April 6-7

Miss Brazil World 2024 @ CNB Brasil: New Dates are May 26-30, Coronation on May 29th

CNB Ecuador 2024 Final on June 8th with 26 Contestants for The 73RD Miss Universe Pageant in Mexico