In 2020, the teenage Paralympic rifle shooter had a makeshift electronic 10m air weapon shooting range set up at her Jaipur home. It brought her a step closer to achieving a podium finish at the Games, according to Avani Lekhara’s personal coach Chandra Shekhar, who said:
Avani Lekhara will also be competing in small bore events, including the 50m rifle prone.
For the 10m air rifle, high-quality lead pellets are used. Whereas, in the small bore 50m rifle event, a .22 cartridge is used. There are differences in trigger weight and recoil between small bore and air weapons. Her coach said:
The pandemic made training for both 10m and 50m events very challenging for the 19-year-old. With movement restricted due to the COVID-19 crises in 2020 and 2021, it was more challenging for Avani Lekhara to practice for 50m prone and three position rifle events, said the coach:
While sharpening her shooting skills was one aspect of the training, there was also the issue of bio-mechanics on account of her disability. Explaining how both the mental and physical sides of training are also vital, Chandra said:
According to the coach, on average, Avani Lekhara practiced for a minimum of three hours a day. When the focus of her training was on both 50m and 10m, it was extended to six hours a day, divided into two sessions.
Speaking of Avani Lekhara’s dedication and effort, Chandra said:
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