The Paris Paralympics 2024, which took place from August 28th to September 8th, saw India achieve its best-ever performance at a single edition of the Games, winning a total of 25 medals, including five golds, nine silvers, and eleven bronzes.
One of India’s most significant achievements came in the form of a historic first-ever gold medal in para archery. Harvinder Singh secured this victory by defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in the men’s individual recurve open final. This marked his second consecutive medal at the Paralympics.
Dharambir also made history by setting an Asian Record of 34.92m in the men’s club throw F51 final, securing India’s fifth gold medal at the Games. In the same event, Pranav Soorma won silver with a throw of 34.59m.
Sumit Antil further added to India’s medal count by winning gold in the men’s javelin throw F64 with a Paralympic record of 70.59m, showcasing his exceptional talent and determination.
Beyond these individual successes, India also excelled in para badminton. Nitesh Kumar won gold in the men’s singles SL3 category, demonstrating India’s growing strength in this sport. Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass secured silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the women’s singles SU5 event. Nithya Sre’s bronze medal win in the women’s singles SH6 category solidified India’s position as a force to be reckoned with in para badminton.
India also secured two medals in para archery with Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar winning bronze in the mixed team recurve open category. This medal came after Harvinder Singh’s earlier success, marking a significant milestone for Indian para archery.
The Paris Paralympics 2024 featured over 4,400 athletes from around the world, competing in 549 medal events across 22 sports. China topped the medal tally with a total of 166 medals, including 74 golds, while Great Britain and the USA followed closely behind.
India’s performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024 demonstrates the nation’s growing commitment to Paralympic sports and the exceptional talent of its athletes. The record medal haul is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the Indian Paralympic contingent, inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams in the realm of sports.
