Avani Lekhara wins gold in the Para World Cup with a world record.
On Tuesday, Tokyo Paralympics champion Avani Lekhara won gold at the Para Shooting World Cup in Chateauroux, France, with a world record score of 250.6 in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1.
The 20-year-old shooter shattered her own world record of 249.6 to earn a ticket in the Paris Paralympics in 2024. Emilia Babska of Poland took silver with a score of 247.6, while Anna Normann of Sweden took bronze with a score of 225.6.
SH1 athletes compete in rifle competitions despite having a lower limb handicap.
Lekhara won the grand prize three days after her coach and escort were first denied visas, threatening to skip the event.
However, the problem was settled after the Sports Authority of India and the Sports Ministry intervened.
“Proud to win home gold in the R2 10M Air Rifle SH1 event with a WR score and India’s first Paris2024 Quota at Chateauroux2022. This is my first international event since the @paralympics. “A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me!” she wrote on Twitter.
“Avani Lekhara, the new R2 – women’s 10m air rifle WorldRecord holder standing SH1. The Indian shooter has broke the previous record (249.6) with a score of 250.6 at the Chateauroux2022 World Cup in France!” Shooting Para Sport posted on its Twitter account.
Lekhara won gold in the 10m air rifle standing event in the SH1 category at the Tokyo Paralympics in August of last year. She then won bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event, becoming the first Indian woman to win multiple Paralympic medals.
