In September 2021, ______ became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals.
Avani Lekhara
Avani Lekhara's Historic Paralympic Achievement
The question asks to identify the first Indian woman who achieved the remarkable feat of winning two medals at the Paralympic Games in September 2021.
Analyzing the options provided:
- Bhavina Patel
- Avani Lekhara
- Ekta Bhyan
- Deepa Malik
The Paralympic Games held in Tokyo in September 2021 (officially the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics) saw many Indian athletes perform exceptionally well. Among the female athletes, one name stood out for winning multiple medals in individual events.
That athlete is Avani Lekhara. She competed in shooting events and secured two medals:
- A Gold medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.
- A Bronze medal in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 event.
Winning both a gold and a bronze medal in the same Paralympic Games made her the first Indian woman ever to win two Paralympic medals. This historic achievement solidified her place in Indian sports history.
Let's briefly look at the other options:
- Bhavina Patel won a Silver medal in Table Tennis (Class 4) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, which was also a historic first for India in Paralympic table tennis, but she won one medal.
- Ekta Bhyan is a Paralympian athlete who competes in club throw and discus throw. She has won medals at Asian Para Games but did not win two medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
- Deepa Malik is a renowned Paralympian, the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympic Games (Silver in shot put F53 at Rio 2016) and a former President of the Paralympic Committee of India. She did not compete and win two medals in September 2021.
Therefore, based on the performances at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics in September 2021, Avani Lekhara is the correct answer as she was the first Indian woman to secure two medals.
Revision Table: Key Indian Women Paralympians and Tokyo 2020 Achievements
| Athlete | Sport (Category) | Medals at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics (September 2021) | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avani Lekhara | Shooting (SH1) | Gold (10m Air Rifle), Bronze (50m Rifle 3 Positions) | First Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals |
| Bhavina Patel | Table Tennis (Class 4) | Silver | First Indian to win a Paralympic medal in table tennis |
| Deepa Malik | Shot Put, Javelin, Discus | Did not compete in Tokyo 2020 | First Indian woman Paralympic medalist (Rio 2016) |
Additional Information on Indian Paralympians
India sent its largest ever contingent to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and achieved its best-ever medal tally, winning 19 medals including 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze. This performance highlighted the growing talent and support for para-sports in India.
Para-sports are categorized based on the type and extent of disability, ensuring fair competition among athletes with similar functional abilities. Events like shooting have different categories (e.g., SH1 for athletes with lower limb impairment and/or amputations who are able to bear their own weight or have upper limb impairment and SH2 for athletes who require a shooting rest because they have impairments in the upper limbs) to accommodate various disabilities.
Avani Lekhara's performance in the SH1 category demonstrated exceptional skill and determination, making her a role model for aspiring athletes with disabilities in India.
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