Avani Lekhara

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Avani Lekhara is an Indian rifle shooter who won a gold medal in 10m air rifle standing at Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 by defeating her opponent Chinas Zhang Cuiping in the final event. She also clinched a bronze medal in a 50m air rifle shooting in Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. In 2021, she held the worlds 5th position at World Shooting Para Sports Rankings in Womens 10m Air Rifle shooting. In 2018, she also participated in Asian Para Games where she clinched a gold medal.GoSports Foundation supports her in shooting sports through the Para Champions Programme. Avani while showing her white card being given by GoSports Foundation.In 2012, she met with a car accident when she was 11 years old. This accident left her with complete paraplegia, a spinal cord injury that paralyses the lower limbs. Later, her father motivated her to join sports. Initially, she got trained in archery. However, she found her true passion in shooting, and eventually, she followed it.In an interview with Hindustan Times, Avani Lekhara expressed her emotions related to her accident that left her paralysed below her waist in 2012. She said, Prior to the accident, I had always participated in co-curricular activities in school, like dancing, but after that everything changed. I was very angry at my physical condition. It was causing severe mental agony. I had no desire to talk to anyone..In 2015, she started shooting at Jagatpura Sports Complex in Jaipur, India. She got the inspiration to choose shooting as a sport from the former Olympic Champion Abhinav Bindra. Avani with Abhinav Bindra.Since 2015, she has won several medals in national and international shooting events. Avani Lekhara while showing her medals.In 2017, the major breakthrough of her life came when she won a silver at the Al Ain Para Shooting World Cup, UAE.In 2017, she was honoured with the Rising Star award by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, for her outstanding performance in shooting. Avani while receiving an award from Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje in 2017.In 2017, she won a silver medal in Dubai Paralympic Championships. Avani being welcomed in India in 2017 after winning a silver medal in Dubai Paralympics.Her sports philosophy is, Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those cards you hold well..