New Delhi, June 28 (Agency) Tokyo Paralympics champion para-shooter Avani Lekhara attained the no. 1 spot in the world rankings in two events.As per the latest rankings, Avani becomes no.1 in in both the R2 – 10M Air Rifle Women’s SH1 and R8 – 50M Rifle 3 Positions Women’s events.”Very happy to have achieved the Number 1 World Ranking in both the R2 – 10M Air Rifle Women’s SH1 and R8 – 50M Rifle 3 Positions Women’s events. Immensely motivated by this achievement!,” Lekhara tweeted on Tuesday. The 20-year-old rifle shooter has created history becoming the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals last year at the Tokyo Paralympics by claiming the top honours in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event and a bronze in the 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 event.
Lekhara had become the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold. She was also conferred the prestigious Khel Ratna award in 2021. After her historic triumph in Tokyo, Lekhara returned to action earlier this month at the Para Shooting World Cup in Chateauroux, France and won a gold with a world record score of 250.6 in R2 – women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Moreover, she broke her own world record of 249.6 in Chateauroux World Cup that she set at Tokyo in the final and also secured a quota for India at the 2024 Paris Paralympics in R2 – women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.