Avani Lekhara won the grand award three days following her trainer and companion were first rejected visas, threatening to skip the event.
Avani Lekhara achieves gold in the Para World Cup with a world record
This Tuesday, Tokyo Paralympics winner Avani Lekhara received the award at the Para Shooting World Cup in Chateauroux, France, with a world record score of 250.6 in women’s 10m air rifle upright SH1.
Avani Lekhara surpassed their personal world record of 249.6 to earn a ticket in the Paris Paralympics in 2024. Emilia Babska of Poland took silver with a score of 247.6, whilst Anna Normann of Sweden took bronze with a score of 225.6.
SH1 athletes compete in rifle competitions despite having a lower limb handicap.
Lekhara won the grand prize three days within a week of her mentor and chaperone were first denied visas, threatening to skip the event.
However, the problem was settled after the Sports Authority of India and the Sports Ministry intervened.
“Glad to win home gold in the R2 10M Air Rifle SH1 competition with such a Record score and India’s first Paris2024 Quota at Chateauroux2022. This is my first international event since the @paralympics. “A huge thanks you to all who have backed me!” she wrote on Twitter.”
“Avani Lekhara, the latest R2 – women’s 10m air rifle WorldRecord holder standing SH1. The Indian shooter has broke the previous mark (249.6) with a score of 250.6 at the Chateauroux2022 World Cup in France!” Shooting Para Sport posted on its Twitter account.
Lekhara won the gold in the 10m air rifle standing event in the SH1 group at the Tokyo Paralympics in the August of the year before. She then won bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition, becoming the first Indian woman to win several Olympic medals.