On Friday, Avani Lekhara of India earned a bronze medal in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions (SH1) event at the Tokyo Paralympics. The 19-year-old, who had already become the first Indian woman to earn a gold medal at the Paralympics by winning the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing (SH1) event, made more history by finishing third in the women’s 50m Rifle Three Positions event. As a result, she became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals in a single event.
Avani had finished second in qualifying, a point behind Sweden’s Anna Normann. As well as Avani, the Swedish shooter had also surpassed the previous Qualification World Record with some spectacular shooting.
Avani struggled a bit in the Kneeling position in the qualification round but found her range in the Prone and Standing positions to climb the ladder. Her opening two shots scored a 9.8 and 9.7 in the finals as she was once again slow to get off the mark. Her fourth shot, though, was a 10.9.
The Indian won the bronze medal with a score of 10.2. Cuiping Zhang of China won the gold medal, while Natascha Hiltrop of Germany took home the silver.
Team News