Avani Lekhara grabbed first gold for India and scripted history today on becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold in the Paralympics, in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics by winning the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.
The 19-year-old became the first woman from India to win a Paralympics gold medal. Avani finished with a Paralympic Record and in-process equaled the World Record with 249.6 points.
She left behind China’s Cuiping Zhang who won silver followed by Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik who won bronze.
Avani Lekhara started the final at a very good pace as she scored consistently above 10 points. Just two-shot of her went below 10 in the 1st competition stage which landed her in the second position.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to tweeter and congratulated all the winners and praised for their efforts put in.
Meanwhile, Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya clinched a silver medal in the men’s F56 event. Kathuniya was only bested by Brazil’s world-record holder Batista dos Santos Claudiney who registered a throw of 45.59m to win the gold medal.
The 24-year-old, a B.Com graduate from New Delhi’s Kirorimal College, sent the disc to the best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver. Two-time gold-winning javelin throw veteran Devendra Jhajharia clinched a stupendous third Paralympic medal.
Sundar Singh Gurjar also chipped in with a bronze, finishing behind Jhajharia in the men’s javelin throw F46 final.
