Paris Paralympics 2024: Avni Lekhara missed qualification, finished 11th in 10m air rifle event
In a disappointing turn of events, Indian shooting star Avani Lekhara failed to qualify for the finals of the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Lekhara, who had won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event just a day earlier, finished 11th in the qualification round with a total score of 632.8.
Lekhara’s performance in the qualification round was not up to her usual standards, as she struggled to find her rhythm throughout the event. Despite her best efforts, she was unable to secure a spot in the finals, where only the top 8 shooters compete for the medals.
Sidhartha Babu Finishes 28th in Qualification Round
Sidhartha Babu, Lekhara’s teammate, also failed to make the cut for the finals in the same event. Babu finished 28th in the qualification round with a total score of 628.3, well below the qualifying mark.
Like Lekhara, Babu had high hopes of making it to the finals and potentially winning a medal for India. However, the pressure of the big stage seemed to get to him, as he struggled to maintain consistency throughout the qualification round.
Rakshitha Raju Misses Out on 1500m T11 Final at Paris Paralympics 2024
Paris Paralympics 2024: Palak Kohli loses her Women’s Singles SL4 quarterfinal match
Paris Paralympics 2024: Manisha Ramadass Shines Bright, Wins First Game at Paris Paralympics
Disappointment for Indian Shooting Team
The failure of Lekhara and Babu to qualify for the finals of the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prone SH1 event is a major disappointment for the Indian shooting team. The team had high hopes of adding more medals to India’s tally, especially after Lekhara’s gold medal win in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.
The disappointment is compounded by the fact that Lekhara was the defending champion in the event, having won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Her failure to qualify for the finals is a setback for the team, as they had been counting on her to deliver another medal-winning performance.
Lessons to be Learned
Despite the disappointment, there are lessons to be learned from this experience. The Indian shooting team will need to analyze what went wrong and make necessary adjustments to ensure that such failures do not happen in the future. They will also need to work on their mental toughness and ability to handle pressure in high-stakes events like the Paralympics.
Moreover, the team will need to focus on the positives, such as Lekhara’s gold medal win in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event and the overall success of the Indian shooting team at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. With more experience and training, the team can bounce back stronger and continue to make India proud on the world stage
