By ive months before the Paris Paralympics, 22-year-old shooter Avani Lekhara encountered a major challenge. She had to undergo surgery in March to remove painful gallbladder stones that had been troubling her for some time. The recurring pain around her stomach and waist made it difficult for her to train effectively, limiting the hours she could spend at the shooting range. However, despite these setbacks, Lekhara remained determined to give her best at the Paris Paralympics.
When Avani Lekhara clinched the gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final at the Châteauroux Shooting Range, her father, Praveen Kumar Lekhara, felt an immense sense of relief. This victory marked her third Paralympic medal, adding to the gold and bronze she won three years earlier in Tokyo. “It was a tough year with the surgery and recovery, but Avani has achieved a historic feat,” Praveen expressed.
Avani Lekhara Wins Gold Months
Lekhara’s road to the Paris Paralympics was anything but smooth. After the surgery, her muscles were weakened from the necessary rest period, making it challenging to get back into her sport. Her coach, Chandra Shekar, recalled how difficult it was for Avani to return to form. “Following the surgery, she had to rest for two months, and when she resumed training, weakened muscles were a significant hurdle. We had to go back to basics, starting with dry and shadow loading exercises. Her body would sometimes shake during shooting due to the weakened neuromuscular memory post-recovery,” Shekar explained. It wasn’t until her neuromuscular memory fully recovered that she was able to resume full training.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, Avani Lekhara made history by becoming the second Indian to win multiple medals at the same Games, with a gold in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 and a bronze in the 50m 3P event. Her achievement in Paris, despite the difficulties, cements her status as one of India’s most successful Paralympic athletes. The pain and surgery she endured highlight her incredible resilience and unwavering dedication in her pursuit of victory.
