At just 11 years old, a car accident took away her ability to walk. But it couldn’t diminish her will to soar or her determination to make history. In 2021, at the Tokyo Paralympics, she became the first Indian woman to win two medals at a single Paralympic Games, clinching gold in the R2 10m Air Rifle Standing event and bronze in the R8 Women’s 50m Rifle 3-Position SH1.
Fast forward to the Paris Paralympics 2024, and Avani raised the bar yet again— setting a new world record and earning her third Paralympic medal, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve such a remarkable feat.
Today, Avani Lekhara stands as a symbol of hope and inspiration, not just for differently-abled athletes but for anyone striving to overcome challenges, in India and across the world.
For her extraordinary willpower, unparalleled achievements, and relentless pursuit of excellence, the jury of the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards 2024 is proud to honour Avani Lekhara as the Special and Para-Sports Leader of the Year.
