Abhinav Bindra fan, Avani Lekhara charts her own success story on the shooting range

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 30

Indian shooter Avani Lekhara says she has already experienced ups and downs in her brief but accomplished career in para-shooting.

The 19-year-old Jaipur topped the podium in the R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 category in Tokyo and scripted history as she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.

Her final score was a world record equalling total of 249.6, also a new Paralympic Games record.

She started seventh in the final but raced into the lead in the first elimination series and never looked back. China’s Cuiping Zhang and Ukrainian Iryna Schetnik finished in silver and bronze medal positions.

“I cannot tell you how proud I am feeling today. Really proud,” the law student told The Tribune on Monday.

“I want to dedicate this medal to our countrymen and to all those who have helped me or wished me well before the Games,” she added.

A life threatening car crash in 2012 left Avani paralysed from the waist down. For the shooter life has moved on from those dark days as she is enjoying this rollercoaster ride.

“Life has been a rollercoaster for me since I started shooting in 2015. I have already suffered a lot of ups and downs in my career already,” Avani said of her struggling days.

“Shooting has strengthened my self-confidence. Whether disabled or able-bodied, everyone has to give his or her 100 per cent. There is no shortcut to success,” she added.

A Bindra, Virat fan

Avani was first introduced to archery as an option but she chose shooting sports. Her father, Pravin Lekhara, took her to the Jagatpura shooting range, which is next to their apartment complex in Jaipur. “My father took me to the range many years ago. I started shooting as a hobby. Slowly got hooked and here I am,” she said.

She says that the Beijing Olympics Gold medallist in 10m air rifle inspired her and confesses that she is a big fan of Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli.

“Abhinav Bindra is an inspiration and I read his autobiography as well,” She said when quizzed about her idol in sport.

“But I am also a big fan of Virat Kohli. I love his character and his dedication to his game,” she added.

Past joys

While the world has woken up to Avani’s talent after her gold medal feat, Avani was already a known face in the shooting circles after winning two silver medals. In March this year, Avani won second World Cup silver at the Al Ain 2021 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup. Incidentally, she finished 0.3 points behind Schetnik then.

“We knew she had the potential because she was winning podium places but today’s medal dwarfs everything,” her mother Shweta Jewaria, who travels with her, said.