Avani Lekhara, the star Indian shooter, missed out on securing her second medal at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. Despite a valiant effort, she finished fifth in the final of the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event on Tuesday. This event, which requires athletes to shoot from three positions – kneeling, prone, and standing – demands a high level of skill and consistency.
Avani, who was paralyzed from the waist down in a car accident at the age of 11, faced a tough challenge against a field of eight world-class shooters. She accumulated a total score of 420.6 across the three stages. While Avani briefly held the lead in the final, she slipped to sixth place by the end of the prone stage, an area she struggles with due to positioning difficulties.
She bounced back strongly in the standing stage, her strongest position, but an unexpected score of 8.3 in the final round hindered her chances of a medal.
Germany’s Natascha Hiltrop won the gold medal with a total score of 456.5, followed by Slovakia’s Veronika Vadovicova who secured silver with 456.1. China’s Zhang clinched bronze with a score of 446.0.
Despite this setback, Avani’s performance at the Paris Paralympics continues to be impressive. She has already cemented her legacy by becoming the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. She successfully defended her title in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, setting a new Games record with a final score of 249.7.
Avani’s journey is a testament to her resilience and determination. Her achievements inspire countless others and highlight the incredible talent that exists within the Paralympic movement. As she continues to compete at the highest level, we can expect more remarkable performances from this inspiring athlete in the years to come.
