Paralympic Games gold medal-winning shooter Avani Lekhara has requested Indian sports authorities to help get visas for her support staff and coach as she had to pull out of an event in France.
Lekhara, 20, became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal in the R-2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at the 2020 Paralympics Games in Tokyo. She also won a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event.
Taking to Twitter, Lekhara rued the fact that her escort Shweta Jewaria and coach Rakesh Manpat were not granted visas and messaged Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Sports Authority of India, Paralympic Committee of India and the Indian embassy in France for help.
“I am sad, not able to go to France since the visas of my escort Ms Shweta Jewaria and my coach Mr Rakesh Manpat have not been released. It's an important match for me on 7th June. Can anyone help?” Lekhara tweeted.
The shooter from Rajasthan has been confined to a wheelchair since a car accident in 2012.
Lekhara was recently conferred with the Khel Ratna and is pursuing a law degree from the University of Rajasthan.
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