On Monday, Avani Lekhara earned India’s first Paralympic shooting medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 category. Lekhara earned the gold medal in the final with a total score of 249.6, which tied the world record. India has now won four medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

The 19-year-old also made history by being the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. After swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016), and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan, she is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympic gold (2016).

With a total score of 621.7 in the qualification round, she qualified for the final. Avani made a strong comeback after a difficult start to reach the showcase event’s finals. She scored 104.9, 104.8, and 104.1 on her third and fourth attempts to qualify for the game, respectively, before scoring 104.1 in the final round of qualification. The Indian shooter will now compete in the showcase event’s finals.

Shooters in the SH1 Rifle category can hold a gun in their hands. Athletes with limb impairments, such as amputations or paraplegia, compete. Some competitors will participate while seated, while others will compete while standing.