Paris Paralympics 2024: The Paris Paralympics 2024 have well and truly commenced. India have sent their biggest-ever contingent at the Paris Paralympics with as many as 84 Indian athletes representing India in the French capital. India have so far won 31 medals in the Paris Paralympics 2024 with more than half of the medals, 19, coming in the last edition of the Summer Paralympic Games.
The Indian athletes would look to better their previous tally of medals in Paris. In the Paris Olympics 2024 which concluded on August 11, India had finished with 6 medals with their shooter Manu Bhaker winning two medals becoming the first athlete in Independent India to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Olympics. But if we include both the Olympics and the Paralympics, she is not the first individual to achieve the same.
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Shooter Avani Lekhara managed to achieve the rare distinction in the Tokyo Paralympics. She had managed to win the gold medal and the bronze in the last edition of the Summer Games.
Car Accident Led To Avani Lekhara's Disability At The Age Of 12
Notably, it was a car accident that led to a damanged spine for Avani Lekhara at the age of 12. That led to Avani Lekhara developing paralysis. The accident badly impacted Avani's self-confidence but her father encouraged her to take up para-sports. Avani's father wanter her to try archery but Avani would end up taking shooting and the rest, as they say, is history.
With Avani Lekhara set to feature on Day 2 (August 30) of the Paris Paralympics 2024, India are hoping for her to able to defend her gold medal and help the Indian contingent get off the mark on the points tally. While her gold had come in the 10 m air rifle standing, she had clinched the bronze in the 50 metre rifle three position.