Avani Falls Short Of Tokyo Bronze, Places Fifth In Women's 50m Rifle 3P At Paris Paralympics 2024

Avani Lekhara won a bronze medal in this category three years ago at the Tokyo Paralympics

Updated on: 3 September 2024 8:26 pm

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Indian shooters Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal celebrate with their coaches after winning medals in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Photo: PCI

Avani Lekhara fails to defend her Tokyo Paralympics bronze, finishing fifth in the R8 - Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 final at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Tuesday, September 3. (Full Paralympics Coverage|More Sports News)

The Indian shooter briefly held the lead in the kneeling stage of the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 final. However, her performance in the prone stage, which is not her strength due to positioning issues, caused her to slip to sixth place.

Despite a strong showing in the standing stage, her final score was impacted by an unexpected 8.3.

India's Avani Lekhara with her coach Suma Shirur poses for photos after winning the gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) shooting event at the Paralympics 2024, in Paris, France, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.

- PTI

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BY Gaurav Thakur

The SH1 class is designed for athletes with lower-limb impairments, allowing them to hold their rifles without difficulty and compete from a standing or sitting position. Avani qualified for the final earlier in the day with a total score of 1159.

Earlier, on Friday, August 30, Avani Lekhara made history by winning India's first gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, retaining her Tokyo title in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.