Paris 2024: Shooting brought me out of my shell says India’s Avani Lekhara
History-making shooter Avani Lekhara was the toast of India at Tokyo 2020 after becoming the first female athlete to win a gold medal for India at a Paralympic Games. Three years later, she shares her hopes and ambitions for Paris 2024 15 Aug 2024
What started as an experience-gathering opportunity at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games soon became so much more for India’s Avani Lekhara.
She was 19 and looking to improve her own game. She certainly did that, winning the R2 women’s 10m air rifle and becoming the first Indian female athlete to win a Paralympic Games gold medal.
“It was too overwhelming,” she recalled. “It was my first Games after a one-year postponement and I was so happy, excited, a little bit nervous.”
“I thought of taking it as a platform for experience, to improve my game. I went there to gain experience and was able to win two medals. It will always be a very special Paralympic Games for me."
Self-confidence through sport
Lekhara goes again at Paris 2024, another step in a journey which began following a car crash at the age of 12.
“I met with a car accident in 2012, a spinal cord injury, after that paraplegia so I can’t feel below my waist,” she said.
“I started shooting in 2015, it was just a hobby during summer vacation. I went to the shooting range, they were in the black circle as you say in layman’s language. So the coach said you should try it and that’s how I started shooting.”
Lekhara proved to be a natural and puts her bubbly personality down to the sport which has changed her life.
“I feel like I’m at home when I hold the rifle. It is the happiness and content I feel when I shoot, when I press the trigger and look into the sight. When I shoot a 10.9 it gives me so much happiness.”
That happiness does not just apply to her sport but also to her life generally. Lekhara says she used to be shy, but she has become a confident medal-winning Paralympian with further medals in her sights.
“Shooting has given me self-confidence. Before shooting I was kind of in my shell and was a lot more introverted.”
“I didn’t want to go out, make friends, interact with other people. Since I started shooting and representing my country in a wheelchair, and won many medals for my country, I got more and more confidence in myself.
“It changed my perspective for life and it also changed the perspective of the people how they see me, how they see a person [in a] wheelchair and I hope it has spread motivation and among the people.”
More success in Paris
Lekhara made headline news in India after her feats in Tokyo. She followed up her success in the R2 women’s 10m air rifle with bronze in the R8 women's 50m rifle.
However, Lekhara’s journey has been a long and winding one.
“I started shooting in 2015 and took six or seven years to get there. There were a lot of sacrifices, especially from my family, support from the government, teams, coaches, they all helped me.
“It [winning gold] was a team effort. You have to focus on different things like physical, mental, technical and all of these together make you win a gold. You can’t just focus on one.”
There is an overriding image in Lekhara’s memories of Tokyo 2020, a Games which were held following a one-year postponement because of the pandemic.
“When we went to Tokyo it was just volunteers and teams,” she said. “Now (at Paris 2024) we will see audiences, and that is more important for our sport as it increases awareness.
“We will be able to cheer for other athletes, maybe families come and support us, that will increase our confidence. It will be very much more a good environment, a lot more participation.”
Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara was hanging out with her biggest fans in Mumbai last night.
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) April 3, 2023
📸: @AvaniLekhara pic.twitter.com/OT0pTKegjX
Once in a lifetime
Lekhara recalls how the emotions flooded through her as she stood on the podium in Tokyo and says nothing beats the sound of the national anthem.
“The feeling that you get after winning gold and seeing the flag of your nation go up higher and higher, it gives you goose bumps.
“I feel that is a once in a lifetime experience for everyone. Everyone should go out there and give 100 per cent. Just for that feeling you should do it.”
Discover more about shooting Para sport and the 22 sports in the Paris 2024 Paralympic sports programme
