Avani Lekhara seems to have stolen the attention of the sports fraternity after becoming the first Indian woman to secure two gold medals, in Tokyo and the ongoing Paris Paralympics on Friday in a 10-meter air rifle (SH1) event.

The journey of this 22-year-old shooter is an example of exceptional resilience and determination. 

Avani was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Her journey changed completely, set by the unbending quest for excellence after a life-changing road accident in 2012. 

It was 20th February 2012. Avani will not ever forget the date. While traveling with her family from Jaipur to Dholpur in Rajasthan their car met with an accident which damaged her spinal cord and left her paralyzed below the waist. She was 10 years old at that time. 

Avani later recalled after the accident, “It was a nightmare. I was sleeping in the back seat. My father was at the wheel when a speeding truck came from the front. He took a turn to avoid a mishap, but the car turned turtle. I loved dancing. After that deadly incident, I had to go on a seven-month bed rest."

Her father Praveen encouraged her, introducing her to shooting. He wanted to engage her in sports as a form of physical and mental rehabilitation. Avani joined archery initially. But she had doubts about whether to continue with the game. 

Eventually, she transitioned to competitive shooting in 2015, but she did not have the interest and even the physical strength to hold a rifle. Still, she decided to continue with shooting after reading Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography. 

Avani, a law student at the University of Rajasthan transcended in 2021, creating history at the Paralympics Games, winning the gold and a bronze medal in a single event. As a reward, Avani was conferred with prestigious Padma Shri and Khel Ratna.