Avani Lekhara

Avani Lekhara’s Early Life and the Turning Point

Childhood in Jaipur and family background

Born into a close-knit family in Jaipur, Rajasthan on November 8, 2001, Avani Lekhara lived a typical childhood filled with normal activities and studies. Her father Praveen Lekhara serves as an officer in the Rajasthan Administrative Service, while her mother Shweta Lekhara’s support has been unwavering throughout her life. The Pink City of India shaped Avani’s early years as an energetic child who showed keen interest in various activities and excelled in her studies.

Academically inclined since childhood, Avani stood out as a bright student who balanced her studies with other activities. She studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Jaipur and managed to keep excellent grades. Sports didn’t interest her much back then – she preferred intellectual activities and dance. Her middle-class Indian family’s support let her explore different interests as she grew up.

The 2012 car accident and resulting disability

Life changed dramatically for 11-year-old Avani on February 20, 2012. A devastating car accident on the Jaipur-Delhi highway left their car skidding off the road and rolling over several times. This catastrophic event transformed her life completely – the impact severely injured her spinal cord and left her paralyzed below the waist.

Medical diagnoses confirmed serious spinal cord injuries that meant she would depend on a wheelchair permanently. Doctors diagnosed her with “complete paraplegia,” which meant paralysis in both legs and the lower body. This 11-year-old child now faced the reality that she would never walk again – a devastating shock for someone who had been running around freely just days before.

Initial emotional and physical challenges

The psychological effects hit young Avani hard when she became wheelchair-bound. Depression and a deep sense of loss took over as she tried to understand her new life. “I was a very active child, and suddenly I was confined to a wheelchair. I couldn’t accept it,” Avani once shared about those early days. She spent months questioning her fate and feeling helpless.

Physical rehabilitation proved incredibly challenging. Avani needed extensive therapy to adapt to wheelchair life. She had to learn simple tasks all over again – from sitting up by herself to moving between her bed and wheelchair. She also dealt with common paraplegic complications like muscle spasms and circulation problems.

Finding a new purpose became vital to Avani’s recovery. Her father saw his daughter’s emotional struggles and looked for activities that might interest her and give her direction. He introduced her to sports as a way to heal. “Sports became a medium for me to prove that nothing is impossible if you have the right mindset,” Avani later reflected. This introduction to adaptive sports eventually led her to become one of India’s most celebrated Paralympic champions.

Discovering Shooting: From Archery to Air Rifle

Why she started with archery

Post-accident rehabilitation became a priority for Avani’s family. Her father understood she needed to stay active. Her parents wanted her to try sports for physical and mental rehabilitation in 2015, about two years after her life-changing accident. They enrolled her in summer vacation sports programs to help her find an activity she might like. “My parents also thought of enrolling me in some sport, and then I went there during my summer vacations in 2015 and I tried archery, I tried shooting,” Avani recalls.

The archery experience didn’t last long. The sport required precision, focus, and discipline—qualities that would help her later. Avani soon found that archery didn’t engage her interest as much as she had hoped. This first step into sports opened new possibilities that would reshape her future.

Inspiration from Abhinav Bindra

A defining moment came when Avani read the autobiography of Abhinav Bindra, India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist. “When I started shooting I saw him as an idol. I just wanted to become like him, he is an inspiration to me,” she revealed. Her grandfather later added, “It was at this time that she read the autobiography of Abhinav Bindra along with other stuff on shooting and developed an interest in the sport”.

The autobiography changed everything. It gave her both inspiration and a path to excellence. “I was inspired by Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography. He gave his 100 per cent in what he did,” Avani explained. Bindra’s story touched her deeply, particularly his dedication and mental strength—qualities she would need throughout her path to success.

Joining the Rajasthan State Rifle Association

Her shooting career started by chance. “I liked shooting more because it was an indoor game, I thought ‘ok, let’s start’. Then I started competing, started liking it more…that’s how it went after that,” Avani explained. She started simply by aiming at the black circle, as she describes it.

The early days brought many obstacles. Shashank Kaurani, secretary general of the Rajasthan Rifle Association, remembers: “I remember her as a girl who could not get out of the car by herself and being carried into the shooting range. She was unable to pick up a gun. Just see how far she has come!”. The Rajasthan Rifle Association actively supported physically challenged sportspersons, creating a space where Avani could grow.

Support from family and coaches

Her family’s commitment laid the groundwork for her success. Her father reached out to shooting facilities in 2017 and did everything possible to support his daughter’s dreams. “There were a lot of sacrifices, especially from my family, support from the government, teams, coaches, they all helped me,” Avani acknowledges. Her mother went with her to training sessions and competitions, even traveling to Tokyo as her escort.

Two exceptional coaches shaped her development. Chandra Shekhar, her personal coach, played a vital role. “He has been really a major part of my journey, especially during COVID days, he used to come and train me. He helps me in focusing on my basics whenever I forget them,” Avani notes gratefully. She also trained with Suma Shirur, a former Olympian who tailored her coaching methods to Avani’s needs.

The training setup required special modifications. The shooting range adapted its facilities for a wheelchair-bound athlete, and other trainees helped willingly. “Our range is on the first floor, we thought over how she will get there, then found other trainees happy to be with her, help her so training could go on,” explained one of her mentors. These changes let Avani focus on developing her remarkable skills instead of worrying about physical barriers.

Paralympic Journey and Record-Breaking Wins

Tokyo 2020: Gold and bronze medals

Historic achievement marked Avani Lekhara’s Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020. She became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. The 19-year-old champion won the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event with 249.6 points. She set a Paralympic record and matched the world record. Her excellence shone through when she won a bronze medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event.

Groundbreaking moment in Indian Paralympic history came on September 3, 2021. Avani became the first Indian female Paralympian to win two medals in a single Paralympic edition. This amazing feat put her among the elite athletes of the Paralympic Games. She became the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in one Paralympic edition.

Paris 2024: Defending her title and setting records

Triumphant defense came at Paris 2024 when Avani kept her gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. She broke her own Paralympic record on August 30, 2024, with an amazing score of 249.7 points in the final. This win made her the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in Paralympic history.

Health challenges hit before her Paris success. She went through gallbladder surgery in March 2024 that affected her training by a lot. In spite of that, her determination and focused rehabilitation helped her return to form for the Games. She showed incredible mental strength.

Understanding SH1 classification in shooting

Classification system in Paralympic shooting splits athletes based on their physical abilities. The SH1 classification marks athletes with lower limb impairments who compete in rifle events. Unlike SH2 athletes, SH1 competitors can hold their rifle’s full weight without a shooting stand.

Competition format for SH1 athletes has different shooting positions. Athletes can compete from standing or sitting positions, including from wheelchairs. All competitors compete together in this classification, whatever their mobility status.

Avani Lekhara medals and world rankings

Medal collection shows Avani Lekhara’s three Paralympic medals: two golds in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and one bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 (Tokyo 2020). Her 2024 performance created history for India when compatriot Mona Agarwal won bronze. India had its first double podium finish in the same event at the Paralympic Games.

World dominance shows in Avani’s current World No. 1 rank in Women’s 10m Air Rifle SH1 according to World Shooting Para Sport Rankings. This ranking proves her consistency and excellence in international competition. She stands as one of the best para-shooters globally.

Training, Technology, and Mental Strength

Customized equipment and adaptive techniques

Innovative adaptations are the foundations of Avani Lekhara’s shooting setup. She uses her wheelchair as the main support base, unlike able-bodied athletes who depend on their lower body for stability. This key difference made it necessary to completely rethink traditional shooting positions. Her equipment went through extensive customization. Almost all parts came from other countries. The rifle needed exact adjustments to match her body measurements and fit her seated position.

Role of coach Suma Shirur

Technical transformation took center stage after national high performance coach Suma Shirur started working with Avani. “I started to work on her rifle setup and then her position. It was challenging because keeping the scientific base of the game, I had to improvise that and tailor-made it for the athlete,” explains Shirur. Shirur saw Avani’s potential and replaced her old rifle with advanced equipment that matched those used by elite shooters worldwide. The coach’s expertise in adapting shooting techniques for wheelchair athletes became a great asset throughout their partnership.

Use of motion tracking and biofeedback

Technological edge comes from Avani’s use of advanced systems in her training routine. Motion-tracking technology analyzes her posture, breathing patterns, and muscle responses with precision. Biofeedback applications provide up-to-the-minute data analysis of hand movements and stability. These sophisticated tools help her refine techniques with instant feedback and identify unwanted movements that could affect accuracy. Advanced technology has revolutionized para-athletic training methods.

Building mental resilience and focus

Psychological fortitude stands as Avani’s greatest strength. “Shooting is 70-80% mental game,” she reveals. She faced many doubts early in her career, as Shirur remembers: “When she came to me she had a lot of self doubts and a lot of questions”. Her training now has extensive mental conditioning through yoga, pranayam, and specialized breathing exercises. “I do a lot of mental training exercises with my mental trainers and we keep changing it according to competitions,” Avani explains. This psychological foundation has become vital to her championship mindset.

Advocacy, Recognition, and Social Impact

Avani Lekhara disability rights advocacy

Beyond athletic achievements, Avani Lekhara welcomes her role to promote disability rights. “I belong to a community of people with disabilities. They look up to me,” she says. She believes that helping even one person live fully without disability limitations would be a soaring win. A law graduate who dreams of becoming a judge, she helps people with disabilities understand and use their rights.

Challenges in public accessibility in India

Public infrastructure gaps remain the biggest problem for Avani. She sees improvements in stadiums and shooting ranges that now welcome wheelchairs. Yet she points out that “this is not translating into the lives of regular people”. She expresses ongoing problems with stairs, vehicles, and schools that wheelchairs cannot access. People using wheelchairs in India pay about ₹13,000 monthly for basic transport while others spend only ₹3,000.

Representation in media and public campaigns

Media visibility lets Avani reshape how people view disability. Her achievements made people see beyond her wheelchair and recognize her true potential. Her coach Suma Shirur believes Avani’s performances “create a lot of awareness” about accessibility. Avani uses social media platforms to promote para sports and inclusivity. “I want to spread awareness about people with disabilities and the community I belong to,” she says.

Awards won by Avani Lekhara

Prestigious recognitions celebrate Avani’s groundbreaking achievements. She received India’s highest sporting honor, the Khel Ratna Award in 2021. The next year brought her the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award. She also won Young Indian of the Year from GQ India (2021), Best Female Debut at the Paralympic Awards (2021), and Para Athlete of the Year (Female) from Sportstar (2022).

Impact on women with disabilities in sports

Transformative influence shapes Avani’s legacy for women with disabilities. Women make up about 44% of India’s disabled population and often face stigma tied to both gender and impairment. Avani’s visibility challenges common beliefs about disability and athletics. Her success story has deeply shaped “the Paralympic movement” and moves focus from limits to possibilities. Many Indian states now run education and sports programs named after her that promote adaptive sports.

Key Takeaways

Avani Lekhara’s extraordinary journey from a devastating car accident to Paralympic glory demonstrates how resilience and determination can transform life’s greatest challenges into unprecedented achievements.

• Tragedy became triumph: At age 11, a car accident left Avani paralyzed, but she channeled her pain into purpose, becoming India’s first female Paralympic gold medalist.
• Mental strength drives success: Shooting is 70-80% mental game – Avani uses yoga, breathing exercises, and specialized mental training to maintain championship focus.
• Technology enables excellence: Motion tracking, biofeedback systems, and customized wheelchair-adapted equipment help her compete at world-class levels.
• Breaking barriers creates legacy: She’s the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic golds and actively advocates for disability rights and accessibility improvements.
• Inspiration multiplies impact: Beyond medals, Avani’s visibility challenges stereotypes about disability, inspiring countless others to pursue their dreams without limitations.

Her story proves that with the right mindset, support system, and unwavering dedication, physical limitations cannot define one’s potential for greatness.

Also Read: Journey of Arif Khan(alpine skier)

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