Tokyo: Avani Lekhara scripted history in Tokyo Paralympics today winning gold in shooting for India. What more, she equalled world record in claiming the gold.
The Indian shooters may have disappointed the nation in recently– concluded Tokyo Olympics by not winning a single medal. Avani compensated it with a fine show in Paralympics today. She managed a total score of 249.6 in the final, equalling the world record.
Prime Minister Modi spoke to Avani Lekhara and congratulated her on winning the Gold. He said this win is a matter of great pride. Avani expressed happiness at the support she has received from the entire nation
This is the fourth gold overall in Paralympics. In the past, swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016), and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan (2016) won gold for the nation.
An elated Modi tweeted, ‘Phenomenal performance @AvaniLekhara! Congratulations on winning a hard-earned and well-deserved Gold, made possible due to your industrious nature and passion towards shooting. This is truly a special moment for Indian sports. Best wishes for your future endeavours.’
Deepa Malik, who heads the Paralympic Committee of India hailed Avani Lekhara’s feat. She tweeted, ‘It’s a Gold! Heartiest congratulations to @AvaniLekharafor winning India’s first medal in #Parashooting. The young shooter kept her calm and won the medal by euqalling world record’.
Yogesh Kathuniya sent the disc to a best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver. ‘That was amazing. Winning the silver has given me so much more motivation to get the gold medal at Paris 2024,’ he said.
Greeting Kathuniya, Modi tweeted, ‘Outstanding performance by Yogesh Kathuniya. Delighted that he brings home the Silver medal. His exemplary success will motivate budding athletes. Congrats to him. Wishing him the very best for his future endeavours. #Paralympics’.
Meanwhile, the medal hunt continued for India in Paralympics today with Devendra Jhajharia and Sundar Singh Gurjar winning silver and bronze medals respectively in men’s javelin throw F46 event. Remember, Neeraj Chopra won gold for India in Olympics recently. India’s domination in the sport continues.
Jhajharia won silver with a throw of 64.35. Sundar Singh threw 62.58 to win the bronze. The gold went to Sri Lanka’s Herath Mudiyans who created a new world record in the F46 category with a personal best throw of 67.79m. Devendra Jhajharia, Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar were the three Indian javelin throwers who participated in the event.
Greeting the winners of javelin throw in Paralympics, the Prime Minister wrote in his social media page, ‘Superb performance by @DevJhajharia! One of our most experienced athletes wins a Silver medal. Devendra has been making India continuously proud. Congratulations to him. Best of luck for his future endeavours.’
‘India is overjoyed by the Bronze medal won by @SundarSGurjar. He has shown remarkable courage and dedication. Congratulations to him. Wishing him the very best.’
Twitter is flooded with congratulatory messages gore all those who won medals in Paralympics today and made the nation proud.
Day 5 of Paralympics in Tokyo yestetday saw India win two medals. Bhavinaben Patel lost her final match and settled for silver in table tennis. Nishad Kumar clinched a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event.
Indian table tennis player Bhavinaben Patel signed off with a historic silver medal in her maiden Paralympic Games after going down 0-3 to world number one Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the women’s singles class 4 final on Sunday. Nishad Kumar cleared 2.06m to win the silver and set an Asian record.
With one gold, four silver and two bronze, India is at 35th position in medal tally.