Just like the Summer Olympics, the Summer Paralympics are held every four years as well. Para athletes participate in different sporting events. This year the Paralympics began on August 28, 2024, to be concluded on September 8, 2024. This is India’s 13th appearance at the Paralympics. India has sent a contingent of 84 athletes to participate in 12 sports at the Paralympics this year.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics was the most successful edition for India with a haul of 19 medals including five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals.
India has won 15 medals already with three gold medals, five silver medals and seven bronze medals in the following competitions so far –
Shooting
Women’s R2 10 m air rifle standing SH1 – India achieved an incredible double podium in the Women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event with Avani Lekhara defending her gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and Mona Agarwal winning a bronze.
Men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event – Manish Narwal won a silver medal in the 10m air pistol SH1 event as he added another medal to his gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 in the mixed 50m air pistol SH1 event.
Women’s 10m air pistol SH1 event – Shooter Rubina Francis won a bronze medal in the Women’s 10m air pistol event.
Athletics
Women’s 100m T35 event – Preethi Pal became India’s first para-athlete to win a medal in a track event. She won a bronze medal in the 100 m T35 event.
Women’s 200m T35 event – Preethi Pal doubled her medal tally by winning yet another bronze medal in the Women’s 200m T35 event.
Men’s High Jump T47 event – Indian high jumper Nishad Kumar added to his silver from Tokyo 2020 by winning another silver medal at the 2024 edition in the Men’s High Jump T47 event. He jumped 2.04 m over the bar to clinch the silver.
Men’s Discus Throw F56 event – Yogesh Kathuniya grabbed a silver medal with a throw of 42.22 m in the Men’s Discuss Throw F56 event. Brazilian Claudiney Batista dos Santos bagged gold with a Paralympic Record of 46.86m.
Men’s Javelin Throw F64 Category – India’s star para-Javelin thrower, Sumit Antil successfully defended his gold medal from Tokyo 2020 and became India’s first men’s athlete to win back-to-back gold medals. He is also the current world record holder and even set a games record with a throw of 70.59m this time around.
Badminton
Indian para-shuttlers have had a superb outing so far. India has won 5 medals in the Para badminton events so far.
Men’s Singles SL3 Category – An IIT graduate, para-shuttler Nitesh Kumar struck gold beating Tokyo silver medallist Daniel Bethell in a gruelling 80 mins encounter winning in three sets 21-14, 18-21, 23-21.
Men’s Singles SL4 Category- An IAS officer by rank, Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj won a silver medal adding to his silver from Tokyo 2020 becoming the only para-shuttler from India to win back-to-back Paralympic medals in badminton.
Women’s Singles SU5 category – India achieved yet another double podium at the Paralympics, this time in the Women’s Singles SU5 category with Thulasimathi Murugesan winning a silver and Manisha Ramadass winning a bronze medal.
Women’s Singles SH6 category – Para shuttler Nithya Sivan won a bronze medal in the Women’s Singles SH6 category.
Archery
Mixed Team Compound archery event – Indian archers, Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won a bronze medal in the Mixed team compound archery event beating Italy by a narrow margin of 156-155.
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