Gold medallist Avani Lekhara becomes the face of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”

Paralympian recently won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics.

19-year-old Avani Lekhara, who recently won gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing at the Tokyo Paralympics, has been named as a brand ambassador for the “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” movement by the Rajasthan government.

Lekhara, who became the first female para-athlete to win a gold medal from India, ousted defending champion Zhang Cuiping and Iryna Shchetnik to create history. Her score of 249.6 in the final was a new Paralympic record.

On Lekhara’s appointment as a brand ambassador of the program in the state, Rajasthan’s minster for Women and Child Development, Mamta Bhupesh, sent a message to her, stating: “By winning the gold medal, you have made the country and the state proud. Your determination and hard work has got the country this historic win and I hope that you will continue to inspire all the girls in Rajasthan with your dedication. I feel proud to appoint you as the brand ambassador for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.”

Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development department, Shreya Guha, also spoke highly about Lekhara, highlighting the fact that the Paralympian’s involvement will create awareness and help empower the daughters of the nation.

The “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” initiative was launched in 2015 by the Government of India to create awareness and improve the welfare services that are given to girls in India.

On the sporting front, Lekhara has three more events left in the Paralympics – 10m air rifle prone mixed, 50m rifle prone mixed, and 50m rifle 3 position women.