Image Credit: Scroll
Union Ministers Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Smt. Raksha Khadse honored the Indian Para-Shooting team in New Delhi today after their return from Paris. The team brought home four medals, with Avani Lekhara winning gold, Manish Narwal earning silver, and Rubina Francis and Mona Agarwal each winning bronze.
Dr. Mandaviya praised the athletes, their coaches, and support teams, saying, “When you compete, you not only win for yourself but also make your coaches, parents, and the whole nation proud.” He added that before leaving for Paris, all 84 para-athletes met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who encouraged them to aim for the top. Some returned with medals, while others gained valuable experience for future competitions.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to supporting sports in India. “We must keep pushing ourselves to perform well in upcoming events, helping achieve the dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The Government will continue to provide top-level training for our athletes,” he stated.
Avani Lekhara made history by winning gold in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, setting a new Paralympic Record with 249.7 points. She also defended her title from Tokyo 2020, becoming the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in either the Paralympics or Olympics.
Other athletes in the spotlight were Rakesh Kumar, who along with Sheetal Devi, won bronze in mixed team compound archery. This was India’s first medal in compound archery at the Paralympics. Pranav Soorma earned silver in the Men’s Club Throw F51, sharing the podium with Dharambir, who won gold.
India’s medal tally in the Paralympics has now reached 27 medals—6 gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze—with more events still to come. Yesterday, Praveen Kumar won gold in the Men’s High Jump T64 with a personal best of 2.08m, setting a new Asian Record.
Additionally, Hokato Sema, a Khelo India athlete, won bronze in the Men’s Shot Put F57 with a throw of 14.65m, making him the oldest Indian to win a medal at the age of 40 in this edition of the Paralympics.
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