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Biography
Avani Lekhara (born 8 November 2001) is an Indian Paralympian and rifle shooter. She won a Gold Medal in 10m air rifle standing and a Bronze Medal in 50m rifle 3 positions at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. As of January 2023, Lekhara is ranked world no. 1 in Women's 10m Air Rifle standing SH1 (World Shooting Para Sport Rankings) and has competed in the 2018 Asian Para Games. She has been supported by GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme. She is also the first Indian woman to win multiple medals in a single Paralympic Games. She has been given out of turn appointment as Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) by the Government of Rajasthan.
Career
Lekhara is the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. Lekhara also won India's first gold medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. With a score of 249.6 points in the final event, the young shooter set a Paralympic record and tied the world record. She began shooting in 2015, inspired by former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra and has since won several national and international titles. On 3 September 2021, she became the first Indian female Paralympian to win two medals in Paralympics history after claiming bronze in women's 50m air rifle standing event.
Personal life
A car accident in 2012, at the age of 11, left her with complete paraplegia. Her father encouraged her to join sports, training in archery but moving to shooting in which she found her true passion. She currently studies law inRajasthan University, India. She was student of Kendriya Vidyalaya 3 (Jaipur), where she received her first gold medal in regional match of shooting.
In popular culture
Avani has appeared in the Kalki presents My Indian Life Life for young Indian adults in the twenty-first century examined by Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin. True stories from India, sometimes brutal, sometimes inspiring. The BBC World Service broadcasts the programme.
Awards
- 2021 – Khel Ratna Award, highest sporting honour of India.
- 2021 - Young Indian of the Year - GQ India
- 2021 - Vogue Women of the Year - Vogue Magazine
- 2021 - Best Female Debut - Paralympic Awards - International Paralympic Committee
- 2022 - Padma Shri
- 2022 - FICCI FLO Award for Excellence in Sports
- 2022 - She - Age Award by Hindustan Times
- 2022 - Para Athlete of the Year (Female) - Sportstar
- 2022 - BBC India Change Maker Of The Year 2021
- 2022 - BRICS CCI WE - Trailblazer 2022
