Indian shooter Avani Lekhara wins World Cup event, ensuring a spot at Paris Paralympics

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<strong>Shooter Avani Lekhara continues to set the shooting range ablaze as she not only won the gold at the Para Shooting World Cup but also set a world record score. She scored 250.6 in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 at Chateauroux in France.</strong></p>
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Avani Lekhara 🇮🇳, the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldRecord?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldRecord</a> holder in the 🎯 R2 – women's 10m air rifle standing SH1<br />
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The Indian shooter just crushed the former record (249.6) by scoring 250.6 in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chateauroux2022?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chateauroux2022</a> World Cup, in France!<br />
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🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShootingParaSport?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShootingParaSport</a> <a href="https://t.co/R2hjg3q5Jq">pic.twitter.com/R2hjg3q5Jq</a></p>
— #ShootingParaSport (@ShootingPara) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShootingPara/status/1534153843772104704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Lekhara who is 20 years old broke her own world record of 249.6 thereby ensuring her place at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.</p>
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The Prime Minister took to Twitter to congratulate the shooter. He wrote: “Congratulations@AvaniLekhara for this historic accomplishment. May you keep scaling newer heights of success and inspiring others. My best wishes.”</p>
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Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/AvaniLekhara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AvaniLekhara</a> for this historic accomplishment. May you keep scaling newer heights of success and inspiring others. My best wishes. <a href="https://t.co/V5jb5AMzlV">https://t.co/V5jb5AMzlV</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1534398000621006848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In August 2021, Lekhara made India proud by winning the gold in the same category at the Tokyo Paralympics.</p>
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The silver medal in France went to Poland's Emilia Babska with a total of 247.6, while the bronze went to Sweden’s Anna Normann after she shot 225.6.</p>
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SH1 category is for athletes with lower limb impairment for competition in rifle events.</p>
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Interestingly, Lekhara was about to miss this prestigious tournament as her coach and escort were denied visas. With timely intervention on the part of the Sports Authority of India and Sports Ministry the issue was resolved.</p>
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Lekhara enjoys the singular distinction of being the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at the Paralympics. At Tokyo in 2021 she had also won a bronze in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event.</p>