Shooter Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal as she broke the record in women's 10m Air Rifle Standing event at Tokyo on Monday. The teenage shooter created a Paralympics record and equalled the world record with a score of 249.6 with her spectacular feat.

She is also the first shooter from India to win a medal at the Paralympics.

The 19-year-old won the gold medal with a Paralympic record and equalled the world record with a score of 239.7. She hit the front with a solid start and maintained the lead to secure the top rank on the podium.

Avani was tragically reduced to a life in a wheelchair after a car accident in 2012 injured her spinal cord.  But inspired by former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, the gutsy girl took up shooting in 2015 to win her first state medal using a rifle borrowed from her coach.

Meanwhile, India did well in the athletics events as well with discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya bagging a silver medal at the Paralympics. The 24-year-old, a B.Com graduate from Delhi University’s Kirorimal College, hurled the discus to a best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to come at the second spot on the podium. On Sunday, India had picked up a silver in the high jump.

Also read: Bhavina wins historic silver at Tokyo Paralympics