Who is Avani Lekhara?
Avani Lekhara (Born 8 November 2001) is an Indian Paralympian and rifle shooter. She won a gold medal in 10m Air rifle standing at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Avani Lekhara is currently World No 5 in Women’s 10m Air Rifle standing SH1 (World Shooting Para Sports Rankings) and has competed in the 2018 Asian Para Games. She has been supported by GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme.
Avani Lekhara is India’s first woman to win a Paralympic Gold Medal.
Shooter Avani Lekhara becomes first Indian woman to win gold at Paralympics
Shooter Avani Lekhara scripted history on August 30 as she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, firing her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event here.
The 19-year-old finished with a world record-equalling a total of 249.6, which is also a new Paralympic record.
Avani, who sustained spinal cord injuries in a car accident in 2012, started shooting after reading Olympic gold medallist shooter Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography A shot at history.
After her father encouraged her to take up the sport, she tried her hand in different sports including archery but the inclination towards shooting happened thanks to Bindra’s book whom she considers her idol.
She’s the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold after swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016) and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan (2016).
In the SH1 Rifle category, shooters are able to hold a gun with arms. The athletes have an impairment in their legs, for example, amputations or paraplegia. Some athletes will compete in a seated position, while others will compete in a standing position.
Apart from R2 10m air rifle women’s SH1, Avani will be taking part in three more events which are: Women’s R8 – 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, Mixed R3 – 10m air rifle prone SH1 and Mixed R6 – 50m rifle prone SH1
Avani Lekhara Biography, Wiki
Avani Lekhara was born in an Indian Hindu family on 8 November 2001 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio. She finished her schooling at a private school in her hometown. Currently, she is attending an unknown college for pursuing higher studies.
Her ethnicity is Indian. However, she hasn’t really shared any details about her parents or siblings on the internet forum. But, she has shared pictures with her parents on her Instagram account in the past. Her marital status is unmarried & her current relationship status is single.
Avani Lekhara’s age is 19 as of 2020. Her height is 5 feet 3 inches & weighs around 57 kg. She has black hair & brown eyes.
Apart from shooting, Avani likes listening to music, watching films, cooking, baking and spending time with her family.
| Real Name | Avani Lekhara |
| Nickname | Avani |
| Profession | Para air rifle shooter |
| Age | 19 [as of 2020] |
| Date of Birth | 8 November 2001 |
| Birthplace | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Hometown | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| College | Not Known |
| Hobbies | Travelling |
| Famous For | Winning the gold medal at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 |
Avani Lekhara Career
Avani Lekhara got her spinal cord injury during a major accident in the year 2012. This made her restrict to a wheelchair. Few years after this incident, her father encouraged her to take part in para-sports.
Her father suggested Avani try both shooting & archery. However, she felt more comfortable & confident when she held the rifle. This began her professional para shooting career.
Avani Lekhara draws her inspiration from Abhinav Bindra after reading his autobiography. Just after one year of training, she has won a bronze medal for the nation at the National Championship. After this, she has got a great confidence boost along with better coaches as well. At the current time, she is coached by Suma Siddharth Shirur.
She has participated in major major para shooting events including World Championships & World Cups. However, at the Para Shooting World Championships in 2018, she has settled for 9th position with a score of 1130. However, in the same year, she has won a silver medal at World Cup in 2018 with a score of 244.
Avani Lekhara has given an extraordinary performance at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. She has helped India secure a gold medal in 10m air rifle shooting. This feat made her the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. Alongside, her score at the Paralympics is a Paralympic record & matched with world record score as well.
Avani Lekhara Net Worth
Lekhara’s current net worth is estimated at 15 lakh Indian rupees. She earns 30,000-45,000 rupees monthly and almost all of her wealth has come from the prize money.
Interesting Facts About Avani Lekhara
- She made her Para Shooter World Cup debut in 2017.
- She is an avid book reader.
- Her idol is Abhinav Bindra.
- She is assisted by a Bangalore-based sports association named GoSports Foundation.
- She loves to travel & been to many foreign countries such as South Korea, France, etc.
- Avani loves dogs & has a pet.
- She joined Twitter in February 2017 & has earned over 5,000 followers.
- She shares her pictures on her Instagram account with over 11k followers.
Avani Lekhara Social Media
Who is Avani Lekhara?
Avani Lekhara (Born 8 November 2001) is an Indian Paralympian and rifle shooter. She won a gold medal in 10m Air rifle standing at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
What is Avani Lekhara’s net worth?
Avani has a net worth of INR 15 Lakhs.
What is Avani Lekhara’s age?
Avani Lekhara is 19 years old.
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