Unfortunately, when the academy was built (first floor), we were short of funds and didn’t have a lift. “The other shooters lift her wheelchair with her on it. The academy and its other trainees needed to make some adjustments and go the extra mile for Avani. We also had to make adjustments to establish her base with only the upper body which is not the case with a normal shooter, who uses the feet to balance,” says Suma. It was about understanding the best load position for her and amalgamation of her technique and biology. The shooting remains the same but as a coach, I had to improvise. It was very demanding to train a para shooter.
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It was a mix of offline and online sessions and she adjusted to it very keenly. “Initially when she came to train with me, we worked upon having consistency in her shooting. Immensely proud ! Many Congratulations on your shot at history ! #Praise4Para #Tokyo2020 Gold it is! Brilliant display by to win India its first Paralympic gold medal in shooting. She would win the silver medal in the WSPC world Cup in Croatia in 2019 before another one at the WSPC World Cup in Al Ain earlier this year. In 2018, Avani would also start training under coach Suma Shirur at the Lakshya Shooting Club in Mumbai or online sessions and practising with a computerised digital target at home provided by the Sports Authority of India. Between shooting, she would read novels or biographies to keep herself busy,” remembers the coach. Later, she practised for 3-4 hours in the 50m rifle event too and it showed her physical strength too. Slowly, she built accuracy and her focus to learn helped her. Once she was comfortable shooting in the wheelchair and the adjustments, we went from 50 shots to even 200 shots in a session. I understood that I cannot put her under more physical load so we would work on the basics in small sessions apart from training with a Feinwerkbau 800 junior rifle, which was much lighter compared to other rifles. “Besides the physical or technical aspects, shooting remains a mental sport at the core and that’s what made Avani a good shooter even in her initial days.
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games: Avani Lekhara of India before competing. It took the coach some time to work on Avani’s technique but he found Avani’s mental fortitude as her biggest strength. Apart from winning titles in the National Para Shooting Championship, she would win a silver medal with a junior world record at the WSPS World Cup in Al Ain in 2017 and a bronze at the WSPS World Cup in Bangkok the same year. In 2016, Avani started training under coach Chandra Shekhar at the Jagatpura Shooting Range and he made her focus on 50m rifle events apart from 10m air rifle events. She liked it as much as she likes reading books, and it was the start of a new journey for her,” remembers the father. Initially, I got her a rented air rifle as we wanted to gauge her interest. Doctors had told us that we have to keep her physically as well as mentally fit to have any chance of recovery and that’s why I got her enrolled at the shooting range in Jaipur. After initial treatment in Agra, she was shifted to SMS Hospital in Jaipur before spending time at ISIC in Delhi. “I was in hospital when doctors told me that Avani has been paralysed below the waist. In 2014, Praveen took his daughter to the Jagatpura Shooting Range to keep the youngster occupied as well as setting a target for herself.
For the next two and a half years, the family would take Avani for treatment at various hospitals in Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. After the accident, she had to spend more than three months at the SMS Hospital in Jaipur before another four at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC) at New Delhi.
(REUTERS/Issei Kato)Īvani showed interest in studying as well as dance from a young age and used to participate in dance competitions at Kendriya Vidyalaya 3, Jaipur. Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 Final: Avani Lekhara of India and Cuiping Zhang of China in action.
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In the final, she led from the start and edged out China’s Zhang C and Ukraine’s I Shchetnik in the medal series to win the gold.
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