India's champion shooter Avani Lekhara was received with plenty of garlands and applauded enthusiastically as she returned to home soil on Saturday, September 7 after her historic performance at the Paris Paralympics. "It has been a good journey and we have won many good medals this time," Avani told reporters at the airport.
Avani registered history at the Paris Paralympics as she became the first Indian to win gold medals in consecutive editions of the Paralympics. She defended her gold in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 category by shattering the all-time Paralympics record which she had created on her own at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Avani is just 22 years old and has already achieved plenty of records in her storied career. She is the most successful Indian female para-athlete to have competed at the Paralympics.
Avani Lekhara's achievements at the Paralympics
- First Indian to defend gold medal at the Paralympics
- Indian with the joint-most medals at the Paralympics
- First Indian woman to win a gold at the Paralympics
- First Indian to win a medal in shooting at Paralympics
- First Indian woman to win multiple medals at a single edition of Paralympics
India salutes its para-athletes
Several other Indian para-athletes also returned home following their success at the Paris Paralympics. They were also greeted with the same enthusiasm and fervour. Mona Agarwal who claimed a bronze in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 alongside Avani was overwhelmed by the reception.
"I am feeling very good as I am receiving so much love...My Paralympic journey was very good as it was my first Paralympic..," she told the reporters.
Meanwhile, India continues to chase more medals in Paris. India's para-athletes have already made the Paris edition India's best-ever outing at the Paralympics with a record 27 medals. India's previous best came in Tokyo where the para-athletes won 19 medals.
