India’s Paralympic contingent for the Paris 2024 Games is ready to make its mark on the global stage, and leading the charge are two of the country’s most celebrated athletes: Sumit Antil and Bhagyashri Jadhav. The reigning Paralympic champion in javelin throw, Sumit Antil, and the prominent shot-put athlete, Bhagyashri Jadhav, have been selected to carry the Indian flag during the opening ceremony of the Games. This announcement, made at the send-off event for the Indian contingent on Friday, is a testament to their exceptional achievements in the world of Paralympic sports.
The Paralympic Games, scheduled from August 28 to September 8, will take place at the same venues that hosted the Olympics earlier this year in the French capital. India is sending its largest contingent ever to the Paralympics, with 84 athletes set to compete, a significant increase from the 54 participants who represented the nation in Tokyo.
Sumit Antil, the reigning men’s Javelin Throw Paralympics champion in the F64 category, has consistently proven his dominance in the sport. He not only won the title at the Tokyo Paralympics but also secured the gold medal at the Para-Athletics World Championships in May. The 25-year-old athlete holds the world record in men’s javelin (F64), setting a new standard with a throw of 70.83m at the World Championships. He further surpassed his own record at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, achieving a remarkable distance of 73.29m and securing another gold medal.
Bhagyashri Jadhav, meanwhile, has also made her mark on the international stage. She won a silver medal in the shot put F34 category at the 2022 Asian Para Games and competed in the Tokyo Paralympics, where she finished seventh. In May of this year, she added another silver medal to her collection, winning in the Women’s Shot Put F34 at the Para-Athletics World Championships.
The selection of Sumit and Bhagyashri as flagbearers signifies the incredible talent and dedication of Indian athletes in the Paralympic arena. They are set to inspire a nation and showcase the extraordinary abilities of athletes with disabilities on the world stage. As India’s largest ever Paralympic contingent prepares to compete in Paris, the hopes and aspirations of the nation rest on their shoulders. This event promises to be a celebration of athletic excellence, determination, and the spirit of inclusivity.
