Paris 2024 Paralympics: Avani Lekhara defends title with GOLD; Mona Agarwal adds BRONZE to India's medals in 10m air rifle final
SH1 category in shooting involves shooters who have movement affected in their arms, lower trunk, and legs or have an absence of limbs.
Updated : August 30, 2024 05:19 PM ISTSH1 category in shooting involves shooters who have movement affected in their arms, lower trunk, and legs or have an absence of limbs.
Avani Lekhara (C) and Mona Agarwal (R)
India's medal tally opens with a gold and bronze medal! Avani Lekhara dramatically wins GOLD to successfully defend her Tokyo title, while Mona Agarwal wins BRONZE on her Paris 2024 Paralympics debut in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event. The two had qualified for the final after they finished second and fifth at the Paris Paralympics qualification round on Friday.
Korean competitor Yunri Lee recorded a disappointing 6.8, while Avani Lekhara delivered a stellar 10.5 to secure the top spot on the podium amid high drama at the shooting range in Paris. Lee had to settle for silver.
Avani Lekhara not only defended the gold medal she won at Tokyo but also improved upon her Paralympic record. On Friday, she surpassed her previous best of 249.6, set three years ago, with a new record of 249.7. Mona Agarwal clinched the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing final with a score of 228.7.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 & 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 🔥🔥🔥
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) August 30, 2024
Avani Lekhara wins GOLD & Mona Agarwal wins Bronze medal in 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 (Shooting). #Paris2024 #Paralympics2024 pic.twitter.com/C897FJPuQS
Avani Lekhara creates Indian history
The shooter made history as the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic gold medals. At the Tokyo Paralympics, she broke new ground as the first Indian female shooter to win medals in shooting. Along with her gold in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, she also secured a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions.
SH1 category in shooting involves shooters who have movement affected in their arms, lower trunk, and legs or have an absence of limbs.
Intrestingly, India's star athlete Preethi Pal made history by securing the country's first-ever medal in the 100m event at the Paralympics. She won bronze in the women's 100m T35 final with a personal-best time of 14.21 seconds, marking India’s third medal at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games. With this achievement, India now has a total of three medals at the Games.