The Paris Paralympics 2024 concluded on September 8th, with India achieving its best-ever performance at a single edition of the Games. The Indian contingent bagged a total of 27 medals, surpassing its previous record of 19 medals in Tokyo 2020. The haul included an impressive six gold medals, nine silver medals, and twelve bronze medals, showcasing a remarkable growth in India’s Paralympic sports landscape.
India’s success story was built on the back of several standout athletes who etched their names in the history books. Praveen Kumar, a silver medalist in Tokyo, secured a second consecutive medal in the men’s high jump T64, this time a gold, after clearing 2.08m. His win was a defining moment, taking India’s gold tally to six.
Harvinder Singh created history by clinching India’s first-ever gold medal in para archery. He defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in the men’s individual recurve open final, securing his second medal at the Paralympic Games. Another noteworthy achievement came from Dharambir, who set an Asian Record of 34.92m in the men’s club throw F51 final, bringing India its fifth gold medal of the games.
Beyond gold, India also excelled in other disciplines. Kapil Parmar won a bronze medal in the men’s -60kg J1, while Hokato Hotozhe added another bronze in the men’s shot put F57. Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu secured silver and bronze respectively in the men’s high jump T63 event. Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar brought home silver and bronze in the men’s javelin F46. Deepthi Jeevanji won a bronze in the women’s 400m T20 event.
India’s performance in badminton was equally impressive. Nitesh Kumar bagged a gold medal in the para badminton men’s singles SL3, while Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass claimed silver and bronze in the women’s singles SU5 event. Nithya Sre, in the women’s singles SH6 category, secured a bronze medal.
In shooting, India bagged four medals. Avani Lekhara secured a gold medal, Mona Agarwal won a bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, Manish Narwal claimed a silver in men’s 10m air pistol SH1, and Rubina Francis bagged a bronze in the P2 Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1.
The Paris Paralympics 2024 witnessed the participation of over 4,400 athletes from across the world, competing in 549 medal events across 22 sports. India’s performance in this global stage, not only in terms of medal wins, but also the spirit of sportsmanship displayed by the athletes, has undoubtedly made the country proud. The Paris Paralympics 2024 serves as a testament to the dedication and talent of India’s Paralympic athletes and a strong foundation for future success in the global sporting arena.
