India has achieved a historic milestone at the ongoing Paris Paralympics by surpassing its gold medal tally from the Tokyo Games. Praveen Kumar, the men’s high jump T64 champion, secured India’s sixth gold medal by clearing a height of 2.08m. This marks his second consecutive medal at the Para Games, an improvement from his silver medal win in Tokyo.
Dharambir, meanwhile, set a new Asian record in the men’s club throw F51 final with a remarkable throw of 34.92m, securing India’s fifth gold medal. This achievement equals the country’s gold medal count from the Tokyo Paralympics.
With these victories, India has secured its best-ever performance at a single Paralympic Games. They have already won 13 medals in total – 5 gold, 8 silver, and 10 bronze – surpassing their previous best of 19 medals (5 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze) at the Tokyo Games.
The Paris Paralympics has witnessed a series of remarkable achievements for Indian athletes. Avani Lekhara successfully defended her women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 Paralympic title, securing India’s first gold medal in the Games. Nitesh Kumar also brought home a gold medal in the para badminton men’s singles SL3, defeating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell in the final.
Sumit Antil further enhanced India’s medal haul by winning a gold in the men’s javelin throw F64, setting a Paralympic record of 70.59m. Harvinder Singh, the para archer, etched his name in history by winning India’s first-ever gold medal in the sport, defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek in the men’s individual recurve open final. This was his second medal at the Paralympic Games.
The Indian contingent has showcased exceptional skill and determination in Paris, demonstrating their commitment to pushing boundaries and achieving sporting excellence. The nation eagerly awaits further triumphs as the Paralympics continue.
