NEW DELHI: Avani Lekhara has become the first Indian to win successive Paralympic gold medals with a record-shattering performance in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) event, joined by bronze-winner Mona Agarwal, marking a historic double for India. Avani shot a superb 249.7, breaking her own Paralympic record of 249.6 set in Tokyo three years ago.
Avani, 22, clinched gold after trailing her rival, South Korea's Lee Yunri, by a few decimal points. Lee faltered with a final shot of 6.8, while Avani maintained her composure, scoring 10.5. This remarkable achievement followed a difficult preparation period for Avani, who had undergone gallbladder surgery and took a one-and-a-half-month recovery break.
