After hosting the Olympics in 2024, the Paris Paralympics started. More than 100 members of the Indian contingent participated in the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics. This time 84 para athletes from India have participated in the Paris Paralympics 2024. Last time Indian para players won 19 medals and ranked 24th in the points table of countries. This time too there are high expectations from Indian para-athletes.
Avni Lekhara is also participating in the Paralympics 2024. Avni Lekhara is a shining star in the sports world of India, whose hard work, courage, and dedication not only changed the direction of life but also became a source of inspiration for millions of people. Let us know the inspirational story related to her life, which teaches us that one should not give up under any circumstances.
Who is Avani Lekhara
Para shooter Avani Lekhara is the first Indian female athlete to win two medals in the same Para Olympics. Avani is a 10m air rifle shooter from the SH1 category. She won a gold medal in this category at the Tokyo Para Olympics.
The SH1 category is for rifle shooters who have a weakness in their lower limbs such as amputation or paraplegia and who can hold their gun without any difficulty and shoot while standing or sitting.
Accident at the age of 12
Avani Lekhara was born on 8 November 2001 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. She belongs to a simple family where both education and sports are given equal importance. But the biggest turning point in her life came in 2012, when she suffered a serious spinal injury in a car accident, causing her to become paralyzed. This accident that happened to her at the age of just 12 changed Avni's life completely, but Avni took this difficult situation as a challenge.
Sports gave me a new path
After the accident, Avni chose sports to move forward in her life. Her source of inspiration was the autobiography of famous player Abhinav Bindra. She showed interest in shooting and stepped into this sport with the help of her mother and coach. Soon she started honing her skills and participated in the National Championship for the first time in 2015.
Success story from Paralympics
Avni's hard work and determination got her a chance to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, where she created history by winning the gold medal in the women's 10-meter air rifle SH1 event. She became the first Indian woman to win gold in the Paralympics. Along with this, she also won a bronze medal in the 50-meter rifle three-position SH1 event. This achievement of Avni crossed not only sports but also social and mental boundaries.
In the year 2022, Avni created history by winning gold in the Para Shooting World Cup. For her excellent sports performance, Avni was awarded the Khel Ratna Award, Young Indian of the Year, Padma Shri.
Education of Avni Lekhara
Avni completed her schooling from Jaipur Kendriya Vidyalaya. After that, she studied law in Rajasthan itself. The Rajasthan government has appointed Avni Lekhara as Assistant Forest Conservator out of turn for her excellent sports performance.
(PC: Instagram)
