Shooter Avani Lekhara scripted history on Monday, becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, firing her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.
The 19-year-old finished with a world record-equalling total of 249.6, which is also a new Paralympic record.
Lekhara is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold after swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016) and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan (2016).
On Monday, two-time Gold winner Devendra Jhajharia won a silver medal in the men’s Javelin Throw F46 category at Tokyo 2020, which is his third Paralympic medal. Though he threw 64.35 meters much farther than his personal best, which was 63.97 meters, Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Priyan Mudiyanselage Herath made a record throw of 67.79 to set a new world record and win the gold medal.
Sundar Gurjar, however, bagged a bronze medal in the men’s javelin F46 Javelin Throw. Gurjar started with 62.26 metres in his first throw and produced his best distance of the day with 64.01 in his fifth chance.
While Yogesh Kathuniya secured a silver in the men’s F56 final in Discus Throw. Yogesh threw 44.38 in his sixth and final attempt. Claudiney Batista of Brazil clinched with a 44.57-meter throw.
