Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal clinch gold and bronze medals in Women’s 10m air rifle in Paris Paralympics

Avani Lekhara seized gold at the Paris Paralympics, defending the top spot she secured in the Women’s 10m air rifle final (SH1) at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. Alongside Avani, Mona Agarwal secured a bronze too in the same event, doubling India’s tally at the Paris Paralympics.

Lekhara, who also won the Gold in the Tokyo games, dropped another sizzling performance in the qualification rounds, registering a score of 625.8. She finished just behind Iryna Shchetnik who clinched the Paralympic Qualification record with a score of 627.5.

Despite being in contention for gold till the very end, Agarwal’s last shot of 10 in the elimination rounds forced her to be happy with bronze. Mona clinched a score of 623.1 in the qualification rounds to make it to the finals, impressing the world with her phenomenal consistency.

Positioned in the second place until the very last shot, Avani rewrote the record books with a brilliant 10.5 propelling her tally to 249.7 which helped her register the all-important gold, setting a new Paralympic record. The last one stood at 249.6 registered by Avani herself in the Tokyo Games which came undone in Paris.