From life-changing accident to Paralympic gold medal

Avani Lekhara, a name synonymous with excellence in parachuting, has once again made India proud by defending her gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle shooting event at the Paris Paralympics. With this win, Avani not only opened India's medal tally in Paris but also set a new Paralympic record, surpassing her previous record from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Meet Avani Lekhara

Avani Lekhara's life took a dramatic turn in 2012 when she suffered spinal cord injuries in a car accident. This life-changing event led her to take up sports as a form of physical and mental rehabilitation. Inspired by Abhinav Bindra's autobiography A look into historyAvani chose shooting as a sport. Her father, Praveen Kumar, supported her in her journey and she started her training at the Jagatpura Sports Complex in Jaipur in 2015.

Career milestones

Avani celebrated her first international success in 2017 when she won a silver medal at the Para Shooting World Cup in Al Ain, UAE. However, this was just the beginning of her journey. Over the years, she collected numerous accolades, including another silver medal at the 2019 Para Shooting World Cup in Croatia.

In 2021, Avani won gold in the Women's R2 10m Air Rifle SH1 at the National Para Shooting Championships. Her crowning glory came later that year when she created history at the Tokyo Paralympics by winning a gold medal in the Women's R2 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve the feat. At the same Games, she also secured bronze in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1.

Avani had to overcome a number of obstacles on her way to the Paris Paralympics. She suffered from gallstones, which caused her recurrent pain and hampered her training. In March 2024, she underwent surgery to remove the stones. Recovery took two months. Despite weakened muscles and the challenge of regaining her neuromuscular memory, Avani never gave up. With the support of her coach Chandra Shekar, she returned to her best form and eventually clinched the gold medal in Paris.