Paralympics 2024: Avani Lekhara clinches gold in 10m Air Rifle shooting
PTC News Desk: At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Indian shooters Avani Lekhara and Mona Aggarwal delivered a strong start for India by clinching gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.
Avani Lekhara, the defending champion from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, successfully retained her gold medal with a remarkable performance, setting a new Paralympic Games record with a score of 249.7 points in the final. Her victory solidifies her position as one of the top shooters in the sport.
Mona Aggarwal, who secured the bronze medal, finished with a score of 228.7 points. Her achievement marks a significant milestone in her career.
Mona Aggarwal, hailing from Sikar, Rajasthan, faced a challenging journey due to early-onset polio that left her wheelchair-bound. The 34-year-old athlete's transition into para-shooting came with the support of her maternal grandmother. Before focusing on para-shooting in 2021, Aggarwal explored various disciplines, including para-powerlifting, para-discus throw, and para-javelin.
Aggarwal's dedication led her to a bronze medal at the 2023 WSPS World Cup in Croatia, and she secured her spot in the Paralympics by winning gold at the 2024 WSPS World Cup in New Delhi. In addition to her success in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, she will also compete in the 50m rifle prone R6 and the women’s 50m rifle three-position R8 events in Paris.
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- With inputs from agencies
