Avani Lekhara’s Inspiring Comeback at the Paris Paralympics

The 22 year old Indian shooter Avani Lekhara overcame all odds to win the gold in the women’s 10 metre Air Rifle Standing SH1 category at the recently held Paralympics in Paris. In the first quarter of this year, she underwent surgery to remove gallstones that have been a constant discomfort to her training since as early as 2023. She had to stop shooting due to surgery and after regaining health, she realized that she had lost muscle strength to provide the needed precision, additionally, her neuromuscular memory is disrupted, so it is very hard for her to come back to the sport.

Being under the watchful eye of her trainer, Chandra Shekar, Avani was slowly able to build up her muscles and accuracy to the point where she could begin dry and shadow shooting before going back to shooting for real at the target. She has won her third Paralympic medal; the Tokyo Paralympics gold in the 10m air rifle SH1 and the bronze in the 50m 3P.

Avani’s shooting career started in 2011 after a car accident which left her a paraplegic. Nevertheless, she built up enormous mental power and this turned out to be one of her greatest assets. She began practicing at the Jagatpura Shooting Range and in a span of few years she was a medallist in national and international championships.

Apart from her most recent gold medal, Avani has been preparing for the future events that will take place in Paris such as the 10 meters air rifle mixed team prone SH1 and the women’s 50 meters rifle 3 positions events. She has a capacity that can possibly take her even near to the past performers of India like Joginder Singh Sodhi in the year 1984 Paralympics where he won three Paralympic medals.