JAIPUR: India’s opening tally in Paris 2024 ParalympicsRajasthan’s Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal took the way to the podium with gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the Chateauroux Shooting Center in Paris on Saturday.
Avani from Jaipur successfully defended her 2020 title with a score of 249.7, breaking her previous record of 249.6 in Tokyo. This is the first time in the history of Paralympics that both Indians finished on the podium in the same event.
It was a closely fought finale and Avani made sure her focus remained intact. “It was a very close final. There was a huge gap between 1, 2 and 3. I focused on the thinking process and not the result,” said Avani after the historic win. “I am happy that the Indian national anthem is the first national anthem to be played in this arena. I have two matches left, so I am focused on winning more medals for the country,” he said.
Mona also says that she is inspired by Avani. “It was very difficult, but I succeeded. So, thank you. Being in the Avani company helped,” said the 37-year-old Sikar shooter after the final.
It has been a long journey to the podium for Avani. A near-fatal accident in 2011 that left him in a wheelchair due to damage to his spinal cord, the 22-year-old regained his health and fighting spirit after he was introduced to shooting by his father, Pravin. Today, the ‘proud father’ said he did the right thing by taking Avani to the shooting range – incidentally right next to his Jaipur home – confident that the move would help his daughter get back on her feet.
Avani’s confidence and resilience have made her a star shooter and the first Indian to win gold twice in consecutive Paralympics. “Winning a double gold at the Paralympics was a big moment in her life. Her performance also shows her commitment to sports, and nothing is impossible if you give 100% to whatever you do in life. I think Avani can inspire all women, and especially people with special abilities to believe that nothing can disturb them,” Avani’s father told TOI, amid spontaneous celebrations that followed the news of Avani’s extraordinary performance in the shooting arena.
The 22-year-old gold medalist picked up a gun for the first time in 2015. “This accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. He went into a shell after the accident. To bring him back to life, I decided to introduce him to shooting so that he gets out of the house and interacts with others,” said his father.
After he settled in Tokyo, the young shooter’s life underwent a complete change. As her personal trainer, Suma Shirur said, “Fame gave her new motivation, new inspiration and made her more confident, both personally and professionally.”
The rifleman underwent gallbladder surgery in March this year and took almost two months to return to training. Back in the shooting arena, Avani redoubled her efforts to exercise. “After the surgery, he made an extra effort to cover the time he lost. I was a little worried, but his body supported him, and his champion’s mindset helped him win the final,” said Shirur.
Mona Agarwal Sikar’s story is a tale of equal determination and perseverance. Suffering from polio at the age of nine months, the wheelchair-bound Sikar shooter took a crack at shotput, discus throwing, powerlifting and javelin, before finally deciding to take up the national team in 2022. Yogesh Shekhawat, coach at Eklavya Sports Shooting Academy in Jaipur, where Agarwal trained.
Married to a national basketball player in Jaipur, Agarwal, a mother of two, has made her children proud. “She has a 5-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. I don’t think her children should look for inspiration anywhere if they need it in life. They will be proud of their mother,” said Shekhawat.
Avani from Jaipur successfully defended her 2020 title with a score of 249.7, breaking her previous record of 249.6 in Tokyo. This is the first time in the history of Paralympics that both Indians finished on the podium in the same event.
It was a closely fought finale and Avani made sure her focus remained intact. “It was a very close final. There was a huge gap between 1, 2 and 3. I focused on the thinking process and not the result,” said Avani after the historic win. “I am happy that the Indian national anthem is the first national anthem to be played in this arena. I have two matches left, so I am focused on winning more medals for the country,” he said.
Mona also says that she is inspired by Avani. “It was very difficult, but I succeeded. So, thank you. Being in the Avani company helped,” said the 37-year-old Sikar shooter after the final.
It has been a long journey to the podium for Avani. A near-fatal accident in 2011 that left him in a wheelchair due to damage to his spinal cord, the 22-year-old regained his health and fighting spirit after he was introduced to shooting by his father, Pravin. Today, the ‘proud father’ said he did the right thing by taking Avani to the shooting range – incidentally right next to his Jaipur home – confident that the move would help his daughter get back on her feet.
Avani’s confidence and resilience have made her a star shooter and the first Indian to win gold twice in consecutive Paralympics. “Winning a double gold at the Paralympics was a big moment in her life. Her performance also shows her commitment to sports, and nothing is impossible if you give 100% to whatever you do in life. I think Avani can inspire all women, and especially people with special abilities to believe that nothing can disturb them,” Avani’s father told TOI, amid spontaneous celebrations that followed the news of Avani’s extraordinary performance in the shooting arena.
The 22-year-old gold medalist picked up a gun for the first time in 2015. “This accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. He went into a shell after the accident. To bring him back to life, I decided to introduce him to shooting so that he gets out of the house and interacts with others,” said his father.
After he settled in Tokyo, the young shooter’s life underwent a complete change. As her personal trainer, Suma Shirur said, “Fame gave her new motivation, new inspiration and made her more confident, both personally and professionally.”
The rifleman underwent gallbladder surgery in March this year and took almost two months to return to training. Back in the shooting arena, Avani redoubled her efforts to exercise. “After the surgery, he made an extra effort to cover the time he lost. I was a little worried, but his body supported him, and his champion’s mindset helped him win the final,” said Shirur.
Mona Agarwal Sikar’s story is a tale of equal determination and perseverance. Suffering from polio at the age of nine months, the wheelchair-bound Sikar shooter took a crack at shotput, discus throwing, powerlifting and javelin, before finally deciding to take up the national team in 2022. Yogesh Shekhawat, coach at Eklavya Sports Shooting Academy in Jaipur, where Agarwal trained.
Married to a national basketball player in Jaipur, Agarwal, a mother of two, has made her children proud. “She has a 5-year-old daughter and a three-year-old son. I don’t think her children should look for inspiration anywhere if they need it in life. They will be proud of their mother,” said Shekhawat.
