Teenage Indians kept the flag flying high at the Tokyo Paralympics on Friday as 18-year-old Praveen Kumar winning silver men’s high jump T64, beating the Rio 2016 champion, while 19-year-old Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals.
Both are making their debut at the Games.
India at Tokyo Paralympics, day 10 live updates
Kumar set a personal best and bettered his own Asian record finished on the podium behind only the reigning world champion. This was Kumar’s first major medal since taking up the sport in 2019.
Lekhara, who is the first Indian woman to Paralympic gold medalist when she won the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1, put in a gritty performance to win her second medal after surviving a virtual shoot-off.
Their medals on Friday morning extended India’s tally to 12 medals, matching the best tally in the country’s Paralympic history before Tokyo 2020. Two more medals are already assured in badminton.
Here’s a look at some of the best reactions to their feat.
#IND at all previous #Paralympics - 12 medals 💪#IND at #Tokyo2020 alone - 12 medals (and counting) 🙌🇮🇳 https://t.co/002qZSW5MH
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) September 3, 2021
Two more medals, today, in Paralympics for India.
— Aaj Ki Taza Khabar (youtube channel) (@AKTKadmin) September 3, 2021
1. Silver for Praveen Kumar in High Jump
2. Bronze for Avani Lekhara (she won gold earlier) in 50m Rifle.
In total Bharat has won 12 medals as of now.
We were just a contingent of 10 athletes in 2012, Now we have won 12 medals.
And that's ✌️ more medals for India. 😍🇮🇳
— PBL India (@PBLIndiaLive) September 3, 2021
🥈 - Praveen Kumar
🥉 - Avani Lekhara
Congratulations 👏
📸: Paralympics India #PBLIndia #IndianSports #IndianAthletes #IndiaAtParalympics #Paralympics #Inspirational #Cheer4India #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/bWFy5USZWw
18-19 year olds Avani Praveen to 40 year old Devendra- this is a true reflection of the effort our athletes have put in. And this can only happen with systems in place. Tokyo is an Indian sporting revolution. @ParalympicIndia #Praise4Para
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) September 3, 2021
Praveen Kumar
Just 18 years old and already a Paralympic medalist! Congratulations Praveen Kumar on winning the Silver medal in the men’s high jump T44 #Tokyo2020 #Praise4Para
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) September 3, 2021
SILVER MEDAL ALERT 🚨
— IndiaSportsHub (@IndiaSportsHub) September 3, 2021
Indian high jumper Praveen Kumar wins 🥈medal at T64 category
✨Does PB of 2.07 which is a new AR
✨Wins 🇮🇳 8th Athletics Medal at Tokyo
✨Wins 4th HJ medal at Tokyo
Congratulations & Well done#ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/AQbhVznDCJ
Heartiest congratulations Praveen Kumar on winning the Silver Medal 🥈 for 🇮🇳 & also setting an Asian Record in the process in the Men's T44 class high jump.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 3, 2021
#Praise4Para #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/hMxVEseDuI
Good morning India!!
— Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) September 3, 2021
We have secured our 11th medal, this time in the Men’s High Jump T64 event courtesy Praveen Kumar. What a fabulous performance to bring home🥈. The country will be proud of his exceptional effort!#Praise4Para @narendramodi @ianuragthakur @NisithPramanik
Struggling to have access to a stadium due to COVID last year, 17-year old Praveen Kumar decided to dig a pit in his farm and filled it with mud to practice his jumps
— Aniket Mishra (@aniketmishra299) September 3, 2021
He felt without that he wouldn't be ready for Tokyo
It clearly worked. He is a Paralympic medalist today ❤️
A huge congratulations to Praveen Kumar for winning the silver medal for #teamindia at the #TokyoParalympics in the Men's High Jump T64 event! A truly impeccable performance, as he set a new Asian Record in the process as well! 🔥🥈#Tokyo2020 #ParaAthletics https://t.co/XFUbI3cDxt
— GoSports Foundation (@GoSportsVoices) September 3, 2021
Avani Lekhara
#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics
— The Field (@thefield_in) September 3, 2021
✅ First 🇮🇳 Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal
✅ First 🇮🇳 Indian woman to win multiple Paralympic medals
👏🏽 @AvaniLekhara! https://t.co/92jMLwNUZH pic.twitter.com/jfXrVyVb8e
A prouder coach each passing day! Extremely delighted for @AvaniLekhara, especially the qualification score 1176. Bettering world record of 1175. A personal best and a 🥉 Medal to make it 2 medals at #Tokyo2020 @Paralympics. Couldn’t have asked for more! Jai Hind 🇮🇳#Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/hY0BWodlb0
— Suma Shirur OLY (@SumaShirur) September 3, 2021
Multiple medals for India at #Paralympics
— Ranjith Kumar R (@iam_rrt) September 3, 2021
1. Joginder Singh Bedi - 3
2. @DevJhajharia - 3
3. @189thangavelu - 2
4. @AvaniLekhara - 2#TokyoParalympics
.@AvaniLekhara, take a bow young lady! A Bronze in 50m Rifle to add to your historic Gold at the #Tokyo2020 Paralympics. A performance for the ages! Many Congratulations #Praise4Para
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) September 3, 2021
The moment💜 Outstanding from Avani Lekhara. Only 19 yrs and the youngest competitor in the final, she can only get better. Two medals: a #Gold and a #Bronze already. #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/Oi0YZoFisY
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) September 3, 2021
What an inspiration @AvaniLekhara is turning out to be at just 19! First Indian woman to win 2 medals in #Paralympics.
— Jeni (@JenishaRani) September 3, 2021
A sigh of relief after mounting a magnificent comeback. 😌
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 3, 2021
Ladies and gentleman, @AvaniLekhara - #IND's first woman to win multiple #Paralympics medals. 🥇🥉#ShootingParaSport #Tokyo2020 #Bronze pic.twitter.com/UHeIwtCdiF
India's @AvaniLekhara becomes first Indian to win 2 medals in the same @Paralympics and her events are not over as yet. Yeh Dil Maange More. #Paralympics #Tokyo2020 #Shooting
— SHIMON SHARIF (@ShimonSharif) September 3, 2021