Paris Paralympics: Avani Lekhara shatters record with gold, Mona Agarwal earns bronze

New Delhi, Aug 30: At the Paris Paralympics on Friday, Avani Lekhara secured a gold medal with a new Games record in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, surpassing her previous best from the Tokyo Games. Avani scored 249.7 to set the new Paralympic record, improving on her Tokyo mark of 249.6. Mona Agarwal won bronze in the same event with a score of 228.7, marking India's first medal in these Games.

In the final, South Korea's Lee Yunri claimed silver with 246.8, falling short of gold after a final shot score of 6.8. Avani, who defended her gold medal from Tokyo, had finished second in the qualification round with a score of 625.8, while Mona was fifth with 623.1.

Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik topped the qualification with a Paralympic record score of 627.5, breaking the previous record held by China’s Zhang Cuiping from the Tokyo Games. The SH1 category is for shooters with lower limb impairments who can hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position.

Avani Lekhara made history at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics by becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals in a single edition of the Games, earning gold in the 10m air rifle and bronze in the 50m rifle three-position. Her outstanding achievements have earned her prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna.