Latest news with #AvaniLekhara
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Celebrating Women Who Lead from the Front
The fourth edition of The Economic Times Women's Forum will see achievers and role models from diverse fields come together on June 12 in Mumbai to celebrate rising women power. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The fourth edition of The Economic Times Women's Forum will see achievers and role models from diverse fields come together on June 12 in Mumbai to celebrate rising women power. Former cabinet minister Smriti Irani , two-time paralympic gold medallist Avani Lekhara, actor Rasika Dugal, Wockhardt Hospitals' Zahabiya Khorakiwala, Moelis India's Manisha Girotra, and finfluencer Rachana Ranade will be among the 23 prominent speakers who will reflect on the theme: Women at the Forefront of Change.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Watch: Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara joins Kumar Sangakkara to back Rajasthan Royals' women's empowerment initiative
Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara meets Kumar Sangakkara (Screengrabs) NEW DELHI: Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara , a standout performer at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with two gold and one bronze medal, joined forces with Rajasthan Royals on Thursday as part of their Pink Promise initiative . This partnership is aimed at advancing women's empowerment in rural communities across Rajasthan. Lekhara's appearance at the event in Jaipur symbolised both her individual triumphs and her commitment to driving social change, as she exchanged a jersey with members of the Royals' team in a gesture of solidarity and support. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Kumar Sangakkara , Director of Cricket for Rajasthan Royals, praised Lekhara's presence, expressing gratitude for her role in spotlighting the cause: 'Thank you very much for coming and supporting as well.' Watch: The initiative is being spearheaded by the Royal Rajasthan Foundation (RRF), the franchise's CSR wing, which has been advocating for female-led development in the state. As part of its broader outreach, the foundation had previously launched the campaign film Aurat Hai Toh Bharat Hai on International Women's Day, echoing the same message of gender equity and grassroots empowerment. The symbolic celebration took place during the Pink Promise Match against Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Despite the off-field optimism, Rajasthan Royals suffered a heavy defeat on the pitch. Astrologer Greenstone Lobo: Is Yuzvendra Chahal's India career over? Mumbai Indians delivered a dominant performance, posting a massive 217/2 thanks to solid knocks from Rohit Sharma (53), Ryan Rickelton (61), and late fireworks from Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav (both scoring 48 off 23 balls). Rajasthan Royals collapsed under pressure, folding for just 117 runs in 16.1 overs. Jasprit Bumrah (2/15), Trent Boult (3/28), and Karn Sharma (3/23) led Mumbai's charge, sealing a 100-run win that ended RR's hopes of making the playoffs. Young RR talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for a duck by Deepak Chahar, rounding off a tough night for the home side.
News18
02-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
RR Exchange Jerseys With Double Olympic Gold Medallist Avani Lekhara
Last Updated: Rajasthan Royals exchanged jerseys with Olympic gold medallist Avani Lekhara in Jaipur, celebrating her achievements and supporting the 'Pink Promise' campaign. Rajasthan Royals on Thursday exchanged their jersey with double Olympic gold medallist Indian shooter Avani Lekhara's Indian jersey, as the 23-year-old attended their match against the Mumbai Indians in her hometown, Jaipur, although Rajasthan lost the match. The 'Pink Promise' event of the franchise featured a symbolic jersey exchange between Avani and Rajasthan, celebrating her achievements and supporting the campaign's message. Avani's presence added importance to the 'Pink Promise' initiative, highlighting the power of sport in driving social change. Watch the video here: Thank you for coming @AvaniLekhara 💗 #PinkPromise — Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 1, 2025 On Thursday, Rajasthan donned a special all-pink kit during their game against Hardik Pandya's Mumbai at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. All proceeds from the sale of the all-pink Rajasthan jerseys will support the Royal Rajasthan Foundation, the team's social equity arm. As far as Rajasthan are concerned, they couldn't qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs after Mumbai thrashed them by 100 runs. The 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi (0 off 2), who took the cricketing world by storm with his 35-ball century on Monday night, was caught at mid-on off Deepak Chahar in the first over of the Rajasthan innings. Avani won the bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event at the 2020 Paralympics, thus being the first Indian woman to win several medals at a single Paralympic Games. A car accident 13 years back, at the age of 11, left Avani with complete paraplegia, an impairment in motor function of the lower extremities. Avani's father encouraged her to join sports, archery training, but she moved to shooting, in which she found her true passion. She studies law at the Rajasthan University. Avani won a gold medal in the 10m air rifle standing and a bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions at the 2020 Paralympics. Avani is ranked the World No. 4 in Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 according to World Shooting Para Sport Rankings. First Published: May 02, 2025, 13:18 IST
India Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Watch: RR exchange jerseys with Paralympian Avani Lekhara in heartfelt interaction
Paralympic medalist Avani Lekhara, who has won two gold and one bronze medal at the Paralympics, joined Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Thursday, May 1, as part of their Pink Promise campaign focused on women's empowerment in rural India. The event featured a symbolic jersey exchange between Lekhara and the Royals, celebrating her achievements and supporting the campaign's message. Kumar Sangakkara, Director of Cricket for Rajasthan Royals, expressed his gratitude, saying, 'Thank you very much for coming and supporting as well.' advertisementLekhara's presence added significance to the initiative, highlighting the power of sport in driving social change. Watch the video hereThank you for coming @AvaniLekhara #PinkPromise Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 1, 2025More about Pink Promise campaign On Thursday, the Rajasthan Royals donned a special all-pink kit during their match against Hardik Pandya's Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. As part of a social initiative, INR 100 from every match ticket sold was contributed towards women-led rural development in all proceeds from the sale of the all-pink Royals jerseys will support the Royal Rajasthan Foundation (RRF), the franchise's social equity arm. In a further show of impact, for every six hit by either team during the match, the Royals and the RRF pledged to light up six homes in the Sambhar region with solar for Avani Lekhara, she successfully defended her title in the women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event at last year's Paralympics, clinching gold for the second consecutive time at the prestigious quadrennial event. In the process, she broke her own Paralympic record set at Tokyo 2020, cementing her status as India's most decorated female Paralympic far as the Royals are concerned, they failed to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs after MI beat them by 100 runs. Languishing at eighth in the table, RR will be playing for pride in their last three matches of the competition. Stay updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!Must Watch IN THIS STORY#IPL 2025
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Manu Bhaker is BBC's Indian Sportswoman of the Year and Avani Lekhara is BBC's Para-Sportswoman of the Year
Olympian Manu Bhaker has been announced as the winner of the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) Award, following a global public vote. She is recognised for her historic achievements as the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Olympic Games, accomplishing this feat at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Notably, Bhaker was previously named the BBC's Emerging Player of the Year in 2021. Avani Lekhara has been presented the BBC Para-Sportswoman of the Year for her historic achievements in para-shooting. She is the first Indian woman to win three Paralympic medals, with gold and bronze at Tokyo 2020 and gold at Paris 2024. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, congratulated the winners, stating: 'I appreciate the entire team of BBC for the praiseworthy initiative of organising the event 'BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year'. The extraordinary athletes who have been recognised through this initiative have not only excelled in their sports but have also inspired young women to pursue their dreams fearlessly.' Tim Davie, BBC Director-General, who hosted the awards ceremony in Delhi, says: 'Manu Bhaker's historic Olympic performance is a defining moment for Indian sports. Her journey from a promising young shooter to a record-breaking Olympian inspires athletes across the country and beyond. We are also honoured to celebrate Avani Lekhara as the Para-Sportswoman of the Year. Her resilience and record-breaking success continue to pave the way for greater inclusion and excellence in para-sports. 'The BBC's commitment to audiences in India makes our relationship here a special one, and we are proud to celebrate the achievements of India's incredible sportswomen.' The BBC Emerging Player Award is presented to archer Sheetal Devi, 18, for achieving a groundbreaking milestone as India's youngest Paralympic medallist. In just three years, she has won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, two golds and one silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games and a silver at the World Para Archery Championship. Mithali Raj has been honoured with the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award for her record 18-year captaincy of the Indian women's cricket team, from 2004 to 2022, the longest in international cricket history. The Collective Newsroom produced and managed the fifth edition of BBC ISWOTY. Rupa Jha, CEO, Collective Newsroom, says: 'I am delighted to see the impact these awards have been bringing to Indian women in sports – amplifying their achievements, breaking barriers, and inspiring future generations. These awards are not just about recognition but about creating a lasting impact on the sporting landscape of India and beyond.' This year's theme, Champions' Champions, highlights the unsung heroes who have supported and shaped medal-winning athletes. A special documentary featuring the guide runners of blind athletes is available on the BBC's six Indian language platforms as well on its English outlets. About Collective Newsroom Collective Newsroom is the producer and manager of the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year event. It was launched in April 2024 as an independent Indian-owned media company with a vision to be the home to India's most credible, creative, and courageous journalism. Publishing from India, Collective Newsroom creates programmes and content for the BBC's six Indian Languages and BBC News India's YouTube channel in English. About BBC World Service The BBC is the world's most trusted international news broadcaster – committed to providing accurate, impartial, and independent news to audiences around the world. The BBC World Service is the BBC's international broadcaster, delivering a wide range of programmes and services on radio, TV, and digitally. It reaches a weekly audience of around 320 million people each week (BBC Global Audience Measure 2024) and operates in 42 languages, including English.
