Paralympics: Avani Lekhara wins India first gold, Silver for Yogesh and Jhajharia, Gurjar clinches Bronze

Bengaluru, August 30: India's Avani Lekhara won the first gold medal for the country in Paralympics in Para Shooting in 10M AR Standing SH1 Final with a score of 249.6.

En route to her gold medal winning effort, Avani created a Paralympic record and equalled the world record.

It was raining medals for India on Monday (August 30) as later Yogesh Kathuniya won silver medal in men's discus throw F56 event at the Japanese capital.

Later the men's javelin throw F46 saw Indian ace Devendra Jhajharia clinching a silver medal.

In a rare feat, two Indians stood on the podium as Sundar Gurjar clinched a bronze with India started Day 7 of the Paralympic Games on a bright note.

Avani scripted history on a fine Monday morning which saw medals raining for the country as she became the first Indian woman to win the yellow metal at the Paralympics, firing her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women's 10M Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.

The 19-year-old finished with a world record equalling total of 249.6, which is also a new Paralympic record.

Avani is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympic Games gold after swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016) and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan (2016).

In the SH1 Rifle category, shooters are able to hold a gun with arms. The athletes have an impairment in their legs, for example amputations or paraplegia.

Some athletes will compete in a seated position, while others will compete in a standing position.

Hailing the para shooter's feat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated her on Twitter. "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."

India's first individual Olympic gold medal-winning shooter Abhinav Bindra also heaped praise on Avani.

"Gold it is! Brilliant display by @AvaniLekhara to win India its first Paralympic gold medal in shooting. Immensely proud ! Many Congratulations on your shot at history ! #Praise4Para #Tokyo2020," Bindra, who India's first indivudual gold medal in shooting at the 2008 Beijing Olympics tweeted.

The rescheduled Paralympics 2020 will go on till September 5 as India has so far grabbed a gold, four silver medals and two bronze medals so far.

Vinod Kumar's bronze medal has been put on hold, though India's chef de mission Gursharan Singh was confident of the discus thrower keeping the medal.

Vinod's classification in F52, which is for athletes with impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference, was done on August 22 by the organisers.

It was not clear on what grounds the classification has been challenged.

"Results of this event are currently under review due to classification observation in competition. The Victory Ceremony has been postponed to the evening session of 30th August," read a statement from the Games organisers.

However, Gursharan Singh told PTI news aganecy that Vinod's medal stands for now.