19 years old shooter Avani Lekhara scripted history as she became the first woman to win two medals gold and bronze at single Paralympic games for India. Avani Lekhara who had earlier won the gold medal in R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, claimed a bronze medal in R8 50m rifle 3P SH1 event.
To win medals at the huge sporting events in the world is an enormous achievement in itself, and the fact that she did it at such a young age, only makes it more splendid. Avani Lekhara success made her only the second Indian to win more than a medal at the same Paralympics after Joginder Singh, who secured three medals at the 1984 Games. Avani Lekhara has been honored by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award, on the 73rd Republic Day.
Avani’s Biography
| Real Name/ Full Name | Avani Lekhara |
| Nick Name | Avani |
| Profession | Para Shooter |
| Height | 5 Feet 3 Inch160cm |
| Weight | 65 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Born | 8 November 2001 (Tuesday) |
| Age (September 2021) | 19 Years |
| Birth Place | Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Jaipur, Rajasthan, India |
| School | Kendariya Vidyalaya, Jaipur |
| College/University | University of Rajasthan |
| Educational Qualification | Pursuing Law Degree |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
Family
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Affairs | N/A |
| Parents | Praveen Lekhara (Father)- State Govt. Tax Officer Sweta Lekhara (Mother)- State Govt. Tax Officer |
| Siblings | Arvan Lekhana (Brother) |
| Hobbies | Listing Music, Watching TV |
Career
| International Debut | 2017 World Cup Tournament at Al Ain, UAE |
| Event | 10 meter air rifle standing |
| Disability Type | SH1 Category |
| Personal Coach | Suma Siddharth Shirun |
| National Coach | Subhas Rana |
| Sponsors | GoSports Foundation |
| Net Worth | 1 crore rupees |
Facts About Avani Lekhara
- Avani who suffered a spinal cord injury due to a car accident in the year of 2012 at that time she was just 10 year old.
- The atrocious incident left her paralyzed from waist down & wheelchair bound. This was a stressful time to be in & to distract her.
- Avani also failed to continue her schooling immediately after her accident. As an outcome, she was homeschooled for two & half years.
- Capitulated to colossal physical injuries took a toll on her mental health. Even today Avani faces difficulties due to the horrible incident.
- In this tough time Avani’s father did not let her depression and in the year 2015, he introduced Avani to the shooting and archery range.
- Abhinav Bindra who won the gold medal in 2008 Beijing Olympic played a paramount role in changing Avani’s direction towards life.
- The autobiography of Abhinav Bindra “A Shot at History” changed her life and she decided to go ahead with the shooting under the coach Chandra Shekhar at the Jagatpura range of Jaipur.
- Life has its ups and downs but Avani defeated her infirmity and trounced all odds to become India’s best para shooter and the golden girl for india.
- In spite of her physical and mental trauma, Avani Lekhara never breaks off dreaming big in life.
- She began shooting in 2015 at jagatpura sports complex in Jaipur, she made her international debut in the year of 2017 in the world cup tournament at Al Ain, UAE.
- it was only after a silver medal in the 10 meter air rifle event at the world cup 2017 that avani distinct to compete in the 50 meter 3p events, early sum total in the 50m 3p events would be in the range of 1000-1050, she has made swift improvement over the last few more years with sum total now in the range of 1150-1170.
- In 2018 she also took part in Asian Para Games, where she won a Gold medal.
- Avani Lekhara always dreamt of either winning a gold medal in shooting for country or become a justice.
- She is currently pursuing her BA LLB from the University of Rajasthan.
- With her win, Avani Lekhara has made the whole nation proud and the persons who have been a part of her journey have a very big reason to commemorate this.
Medals
| Gold | 1. 10m Rifle, Prone & 3P Events at the World Shooting Para Sports World Cup, Dubai in 2017 2. 3 Gold Medals in 63rd National Shooting Championship, Bhopal in 2019. 3. 3 Gold Medals in 19th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship, New Delhi in 2019 |
| Silver | 1. R2 at the WSPS World Cup Al Ain in 2021 2. R2 at the Wsps World Cup in Osijek in 2019 3. Junior World Cup Al Ain in 2017 4.19th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championship, New Delhi in 2019 |
| Bronze | 1. R2 at the WSPS World Cup Bangkok 2017 2. 63rd national shooting Championship, Bhopal 2019 |
Reward/Prize Money
- Government of Rajasthan Declares 3 Crore rupees case reward for Avani Lekhara.
- Get Appointed to the post of Assistant Conservator of Forest in the State Forest Department.
- 2022- Padma Shri by Government Of India
PM Modi Congratulated Avani
After this tremendous performance President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated Avni Lekhara as well as the county, after the same time Prime Minister Narendra Modi also Congratulated Avni for the phenomenal performance.