Avani Lekhara, a paralympian who is now competing in the Asian Para Games and has broken a record in rifle shooting, discusses her win and her love of the sport.
The only thing that counts in reaching one’s life goals is one’s own will. Rifle shooter Avani Lekhara demonstrated this on October 24 in Hangzhou, China, when she won her first gold in the R2 10m Air Rifle Stand SH1 category of the upcoming Asian Para Games 2022. The shooter from Jaipur has created a new Asian Para Games record with a total score of 249.6.
Lekhara discusses the strategy of the Indian contingent, which now has 34 medals at the Games: “Our aim is to play to the best of our abilities, and that is exactly what our contingent is aiming for.” We receive the medals as payment for our commitment to our nation and game.
As Lekhara gets ready to face off against other competitors, she tells us that having more shooting ranges around the nation makes it easier for people like us. Additionally, because shooting has the blessings of our forefathers, it is a pastime that will never let us down.
Breaking a record “felt like a cherry on the cake” for the 21-year-old. She continues, “My coach had a proud look on his face; the feeling of looking at that was unmatched.” “I did a little dance in my head, too,” she laughs.
Lekhara focused on what she anticipated of herself before she headed out for the event rather than what other people thought of her. “I was aware that I had high expectations following my victories at the 2022 ISSF World Cup and the Tokyo Paralympic Games. But as I entered the arena for the competition, my only goal was to win and inspire pride in my nation. Given my past performance, I didn’t want to let the nation down. I didn’t want to let myself down, and that was more important,” she says.
