India’s Avani Lekhara won the gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at the Tokyo Paralympics on Monday. Lekhara is the first woman from India to win a gold at the Paralympics. 

The 19-year-old shot a world record-equalling total of 249.6 in the final to equal the World Record and clinch India’s first gold medal at the games. 

This is India’s fifth individual gold medal in the history of Paralympics. Other than Avani Lekhara, the other Indian athletes to have achieved the feat are – 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.

Also read: Yogesh Kathuniya, India’s silver-winning discus thrower at Tokyo Paralympics

After winning the final, Lekhara said that she was feeling on top of the world. “I can’t describe this feeling, I’m feeling like I’m on top of the world. It’s unexplainable,” Lekhara said.

She said that she was happy that she could contribute and hoped that India could win more medals at the marquee event.

Lekhara edged out 2016 Rio Games gold-medallist Cuiping Zhangh of China who clinched the silver medal with a total of 248.9 at the Asaka Shooting Range.

World number one and reigning world champion Iryna Shchetnik of Ukraine took home the bronze with an effort of 227.5.

“I was just saying one thing, that I have to take one shot at a time. There’s nothing else that matters now, just take one shot at a time and just finish it.

“I just think that I have to follow the process. Beyond that, I try not to think about the score or the medal tally,” Lekhara said reflecting on her performance in the final.