Avani Lekhara and Manish Narwal won back-to-back Paralympic medals for India on Friday.
India had a great day two at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, earning four medals, including one gold, one silver, and two bronze. India is now ranked 17th in the overall medal total and appears to be on track to meet the aim of 25 medals in Paris, as stated by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) chief Devendra Jhajharia before the commencement of the games.
India began the day with reigning Paralympic world champion Avani Lekhara, who continued her shooting supremacy by winning her second straight gold medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 category at the Paralympic Games. She became the first Indian female para-athlete to achieve so. She became the first Indian female para-athlete to achieve so. Avani scored 249.7 in the finals, beating her previous Paralympic Games record of 249.6 established in Tokyo.
The event was a double victory for India, as para-shooter Mona Agarwal won the bronze medal with a final score of 228.7. Mona demonstrated in her maiden Paralympic Games that she can play an important part in India’s chase of 25 medals in Paris.
Manish Narwal, another highlight of the day, won the silver medal in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event. Manish, who won gold in the mixed pistol SH1 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, joined Avani Lekhara and Devendra Jhajharia on the list of Indian athletes who have won two medals.
Preethi Pal, a para-sprinter, opened India’s track and field account by winning bronze in the women’s 100m T35 event. Preethi made her Paralympic Games debut in Paris, repeating her bronze medal result at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championship (WAPC), which won her a spot in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
