Paralympics Live: Avani Lekhara aims for another medal

India had a remarkable Day 5 at the Paris Paralympics 2024, securing a total of 8 medals, with Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar leading the charge with gold. Yogesh Kathuniya, Thulasimathi Murugesan, and Suhas Yathiraj also delivered impressive performances, contributing to India's success.

Avani Lekhara made history on Friday by securing her second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. She achieved this feat by successfully defending her title in the women's 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1 event. Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in the history of the Paralympic Games.

Sheetal Devi, a 17-year-old archer, stunned the crowd at the Paris Paralympics 2024 with her exceptional talent and unwavering determination. The young Paralympian, who was born without arms, made a remarkable first appearance at the prestigious Paralympics event.

Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, the Indian archery duo, secured the bronze medal in the Mixed Team Compound event at the ongoing Paris Paralympics. They triumphed over the Italian pair of Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonnacina with a score of 156-155 in the bronze medal match on Monday.

Nitesh's gold was icing on the cake on a day when India also clinched silver medals through discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya (F56) and para-shuttlers Thulasimathi Murugesan (SU5) and Suhas Yathiraj (SL4), who had won a silver in the Tokyo Games as well. A bronze also came from a para-shuttler in Manisha Ramadass (SU5).

India also tasted success in archery after the duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar staged a remarkable comeback after the heartbreak in the semifinals to claim the bronze medal with a 156-155 win over Italy's Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina in mixed team compound open competition.

It is only the second time that India has won a medal in Paralympics in archery. Harvinder Singh bagged an individual bronze at the Tokyo edition of the Games three years ago.

Sheetal, 17, also became the first Indian woman to win an archery medal at the quadrennial showpiece.

Later in the evening, Antil hogged the limelight with his exploits as he became the first Indian man to defend Paralympic title by winning the javelin throw F64 final with a Games record of 70.59m.

The 26-year-old world record holder from Sonipat in Haryana bettered his own earlier Paralympic best of 68.55m set in Tokyo while winning the gold three years ago.

His world record stands at 73.29m.

Antil is the second Indian overall after shooter Avani Lekhara to defend a Paralympic title.

Inspired by the country's armed forces and cricket star Virat Kohli, a determined Nitesh Kumar sparkled with a gold medal on debut before javelin throw champion Sumit Antil joined India's para-badminton players in ensuring that the nation celebrated its best day at the ongoing Paralympic Games.

Thanks to their heroics, India remained on course for a record-breaking medal haul.