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Indian Paralympic athletes were accorded a grand welcome at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport upon their return from the Paris Paralympics, where they showcased an exceptional performance. On Saturday morning, half of the Indian contingent arrived home after participating in the prestigious event.Among the returning athletes were Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal, Pranav Soorma, Rakesh Kumar, and Manish Narwal. Fans gathered in large numbers outside the airport, showering the para-athletes with flower petals and expressing their admiration.India's Paralympic stars, including gold medalist Avani Lekhara, silver medalist Manish Narwal, Pranav Soorma, and bronze medalists Rubina, returned to a hero's welcome. The remaining athletes of the Indian contingent will return after the conclusion of the multi-sport event.Star Indian parashooter Avani Lekhara expressed her gratitude for the support and recognition. "It has been a good journey, and we have won many good medals this time," she said.Para shooter Mona Agarwal shared her excitement about her first Paralympic experience. "I am feeling very good as I am receiving so much love... My Paralympic journey was very good," she said.Reigning Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara continued her winning streak, securing gold in the women's 10m air rifle final. She became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in the Games' history. Shooter Mona Agarwal also bagged a bronze medal in the same event.Para-archer Rakesh Kumar attributed his victory to his coaches. "I am feeling very good... The credit for my victory goes to my coaches... We will work hard and perform better at the next Paralympics," he said.The Indian archery pair of Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi clinched the bronze medal in the Mixed Team Compound event, defeating Italy's Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonnacina.India's medal tally at the ongoing Paralympics has reached 27, including six gold medals, nine silver medals, and 12 bronze medals. This is the highest number of gold medals India has ever won at a Paralympics Games event, surpassing the previous record of five golds in Tokyo 2020.Indian para-athletes have made the nation proud with their exceptional performance, contributing three golds, six silvers, and six bronze medals to the country's overall tally.

India's ace shooter Avani Lekhara, who made history by winning a gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Tokyo Paralympics, has once again entered the final of a shooting event at the ongoing Games. On Tuesday, Lekhara finished seventh in the qualification round of the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition, securing a spot in the final.Lekhara shot a total of 1159 across the three stages of kneeling, prone, and standing. She started strongly in the kneeling stage, scoring 392, but faced some challenges in the prone stage, scoring 382. However, she recovered in the standing stage, shooting 385, including a series of 96 and 97, to move up to seventh place.Mona Agarwal, the other Indian shooter in the field, finished 13th in the qualification round with a total score of 1147. She shot 386 in the kneeling stage, 380 in the prone stage, and 381 in the standing stage.The top eight shooters from the qualification round advanced to the final, which will be held on Wednesday. Lekhara will be aiming to add another medal to her tally after her historic gold medal in the 10m air rifle SH1 event.Lekhara's success in shooting is a testament to her determination and resilience. She was paralyzed waist-down in a car accident at the age of 11, but she did not let that setback define her. She took up shooting as a hobby and quickly discovered her talent for the sport.Lekhara's achievements have inspired countless people around the world. She is a role model for athletes with disabilities and a symbol of hope and possibility.

India's Medal Hunt Continues at Paris Paralympics 2024After a remarkable start to the Paris Paralympics 2024, the Indian contingent is poised for more medal glory on Tuesday. Star shooter Avani Lekhara, who has already secured a gold medal, will return to action in the women's 50m rifle 3 position event.In athletics, India's high jump trio of Mariyappan Thangavelu, Shailesh Kumar, and Sharad Kumar will aim for podium finishes in the men's high jump T63 finals. Meanwhile, Ajeet Singh, Rinku, and Sundar Singh Gurjar will vie for medals in the F46 javelin throw final.The day's schedule also features para archery, with Pooja set to compete in the women's individual recurve open round of 16. If she qualifies, she will face off in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and potentially the bronze or gold medal matches later in the evening.Detailed Schedule:Para Shooting* 1:00 PM: Women's 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 (Qualification) - Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal* 7:30 PM: Women's 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 Finals (Subject to Qualification) - Avani Lekhara, Mona AgarwalPara Athletics* 2:28 PM: Women's Shot Put F34 (Finals) - Bhagyashri Madhavrao Jadhav* 10:38 PM: Women's 400m T20 (Final) - Deepthi Jeevanji* 11:50 PM: Men's High Jump T63 Finals - Mariyappan Thangavelu, Shailesh Kumar, Sharad Kumar* 12:13 AM (September 4): Men's Javelin Throw F46 Finals - Ajeet Singh, Rinku, Sundar Singh GurjarPara Archery* 3:20 PM: Women's Individual Recurve Open Round of 16 - Pooja vs TBD* 8:30 PM: Women's Individual Recurve Open Quarter-final (Subject to Qualification) - Pooja vs TBD* 9:38 PM: Women's Individual Recurve Open Semi-final (Subject to Qualification) - Pooja vs TBD* 10:27 PM: Women's Individual Recurve Open Bronze Medal Match (Subject to Qualification) - Pooja vs TBD* 10:44 PM: Women's Individual Recurve Open Gold Medal Match (Subject to Qualification) - Pooja vs TBD

Indian shooters Avani Lekhara and Sidhartha Babu faced a setback at the Paralympic Games in Chateauroux on Sunday, failing to qualify for the final of the mixed 10m air rifle prone (SH1) event.Lekhara, who had made history by winning a gold medal in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, struggled to replicate her form in this unfamiliar event. Despite a strong start, she finished with a total score of 632.8, placing 11th overall. Babu, on the other hand, ended in 28th position with a score of 628.3.Lekhara's sequence of scores included 105.7, 106.0, 104.1, 106.0, 104.8, and 106.2. Babu's scores were 104.6, 103.8, 105.7, 104.9, 103.6, and 105.7.The SH1 classification allows athletes to hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position. Lekhara, who had become the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic gold medals, had defended her title in the women's 10m air rifle (SH1) event with a world record score on Friday.Despite their disappointment in the mixed 10m air rifle prone event, Lekhara and Babu remain hopeful for success in their upcoming events. Lekhara will compete in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event, while Babu will participate in the men's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.

Indian shooting contingent is poised to surpass its Tokyo Paralympics medal tally at the upcoming Paris Games, according to pistol marksman Manish Narwal. The team's intense training regimen has prepared them for success, he said.A 10-member shooting contingent, including rifle exponent Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal, and Narwal, will compete at the Chateauroux Centre near Paris from August 30. India had won two gold, a silver, and two bronze medals at the Tokyo Paralympics."Our preparations have been intense, and we are eager to give our best shot in Paris. We aim to surpass our previous performance and bring more medals home," said Narwal, who won the 50m pistol (SH1) gold in Tokyo and will be competing in 10m air pistol at the Paris Games.Besides Narwal, Avani, and Mona, the other members of the shooting contingent are Amir Ahmad Bhat, Rudransh Khandelwal, Rubina Francis, Swaroop Unahalkar, Sidhartha Babu, Shriharsha Devaraddi, and Nihal Singh.The spotlight will be on reigning Paralympic champion Avani, who made history by becoming the first woman shooter from India to win two medals in Tokyo. The Jaipur shooter, then 19, had clinched gold in 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3-positions (SH1). She will look to replicate her gold medal-winning performances in Paris.The Paralympic Committee is expecting a record-breaking 25-plus medals in Paris, and the performance of the shooting team will have a great impact on the overall tally.

Avani Lekhara's journey to becoming a Paralympic shooting champion is a testament to her resilience and determination. After a car accident left her paralyzed at the age of 11, Avani found solace in shooting, a sport that gave her a sense of purpose and accomplishment.With the support of her parents, Avani began practicing shooting in 2015. Within six years, she had become a national champion and was representing India at the Tokyo Paralympics. In Tokyo, Avani made history by winning India's first medals in shooting at the Paralympics, a gold in the 10m air rifle and a bronze in the 50m rifle 3-positions.Avani's success has brought with it expectations, but she remains focused on her process and technique. She believes that by controlling the controllable and focusing on her training, she can achieve her goals.Avani's preparations for the Paris Paralympics have been aided by a quick recovery from gallbladder surgery. She is also benefiting from a healthy rivalry with upcoming shooter Mona Agarwal, who won gold at the World Cup in Delhi.Avani credits her personal coach, Chandra Shekhar, for her success. She says that he has been an integral part of her journey, helping her to focus on her basics and improve her technique.With her determination, resilience, and the support of her coach and family, Avani is poised to make history once again at the Paris Paralympics.