Indian para shooter Avani Lekhara entered history books by winning a gold medal in the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024 on Friday, August 30. Avani registered a new Paralympics record by finishing on top in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.
The 22-year-old Avani claimed her third Paralympics medal and second gold to shatter multiple records. She became the first-ever Indian, male or female, to win gold medals in back-to-back Paralympic events.
Avani also became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals and only second after the legendary athlete Devendra Jhajharia to achieve this remarkable feat. Avani won a gold and bronze medal in the 2024 Tolyo Paralympics and now equalled Jhajharia's all-time record for most medals for India with her third medal.
Indians with most medals at Summer Paralympic games
- Devendra Jhajaharia - 3 (2 gold and 1 silver)
- Avani Lekhara - 3 (2 gold and 1 bronze)
- Joginder Singh Bedi - 3 (2 silver and 1 bronze)
- Mariyappan Thangavelu - 2 (1 gold and 1 silver)
- Manish Narwal - 2 (1 gold and 1 silver)
- Singhraj Adhana - 2 (1 silver and 1 bronze)
After Lekhara's heroics, Preethi Pawar also created history with a bronze medal in the women's 100m event on Friday. Preethi became the first Indian athlete to win a Paralympic athlete to win a track medal in tournament history.
Meanwhile, Manish Narwal registered a silver medal in the men's 10m air pistol event to bring India's fourth medal on Day 2. He became the only sixth Indian to win multiple medals in the Paralympics and the third after Avani and Singhraj Adana to win multiple shooting medals.
With four medals claimed on Day 2, India was boosted to the 14th position in the Paris Paralympics 2024 medal table and is expected to produce more medals to eye the T10 finish.
