Disabilities Cannot Bind You From Achieving Your Dreams, Proves Avani Lekhara

By Bhumika Chitkara

Who says disabilities can bind you from achieving your dreams? You cannot control any unforeseen circumstances in life, but you can surely choose to overcome them and not take them as a hurdle in achieving your goals! To prove that sky is the limit, we would like to share Avani Lekhara’s inspirational journey with you!

Source:outlookindia

Avani Lekhara is an Indian National Paralympic and wheelchair rifle shooter. She has been an inspiration not just to parathletes but to every person who wants to achieve their dreams but is reluctant to fulfil them because of their disabilities. Avani is widely known for her determination, strength, perseverance and success in the shooting. 

Avani took up shooting as a hobby until she realised she wanted to pursue it professionally. Born on 8 November 2001 in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Lekhara began her shooting journey in 2015 and didn’t look back since then. She is a rifle shooter and competes in a 10-metre air rifle and a 50-metre rifle three positions events. 

In 2012, at the age of 11, Avani met with a car accident that left her with a spinal cord injury and paraplegia. After that, her father has been her biggest inspiration and support system. He encouraged her to join sports and continue archery, but later she discovered her passion for shooting. 

Source: indianexpress

Avani was the first Indian Woman to win a gold medal in the Paralympics games in shooting. She won a gold medal in the women’s 10-metre air rifle standing SH1 event at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics and set a new world record with a score of 249.6 in the finals. Avani is also a two-time medalist in Paralympics in 2021 after winning gold and bronze medal.

That’s not it! Lekhara has also won Khel Ratna, Young Indian of the Year 2021, Vogue Women of the Year, Padma Shri in 2022, and many more prestigious awards!

Her story is an inspiration to many people. She has proved through her determination that anything is possible irrespective of all the challenges that may come your way.