India is set to make history at the Paralympic Games in Paris, fielding a record-breaking contingent of 84 para-athletes. This unprecedented participation, a potent combination of youth and experience, fuels India’s ambition for an unmatched medal haul.
Following their record-breaking performance at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, where they secured 19 medals including five gold, India is aiming to surpass their achievements in Paris. The target is set at around 25 medals, with a goal of securing ten gold medals. This ambition is fueled by the remarkable performances of Indian para-athletes over the last year, particularly their dominant showing at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games where they won an astounding 111 medals, including 29 gold.
Several athletes stand as top medal contenders, including Sumit Antil in the Men’s javelin throw (F64 category), Yogesh Kathuniya in the Men’s discus throw (F56 category), Krishna Nagar in the Men’s singles (SH6 category) for badminton, and Ly Suhas in both the Men’s singles and Mixed doubles (SL4 and SL3-SU5 categories) for badminton.
Other notable contenders include Manish Narwal in the P1-M 10m air pistol (SH1 category) for shooting, Avani Lekhara in R2-W 10m air rifle standing, R3-X 10m air rifle prone, and R8-W 50m rifle 3 positions (SH1 category) for shooting, Bhavinaben Patel in the Women’s singles (WS4) and doubles (WD10) for table tennis, Sheetal Devi in the Women’s individual and Mixed team compound open (ST category) for archery, Harvinder Singh in the Men’s individual and Mixed team recurve open (ST category) for archery, and Prachi Yadav in the Women’s Va’a single 200m (VL2 category) for canoe.
India’s Paralympic journey has witnessed a steady rise in medal wins, with notable achievements in Heidelberg 1972 (1 medal), Stoke Mandeville/New York City 1984 (4), Athens 2004 (2), London 2012 (1), Rio 2016 (4), and Tokyo 2020 (19), accumulating a total of 31 medals.
The Paris Paralympics will see a strong representation from various Indian states, with Haryana leading with 12 athletes, followed by Rajasthan (9), Uttar Pradesh (5), Tamil Nadu (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Maharashtra (4), Gujarat (3), Jammu & Kashmir (2), Punjab (2), Uttarakhand (2), Andhra Pradesh (2), Karnataka (2), Kerala (1).
With their unwavering determination and a blend of youth and experienced talent, India’s para-athletes are poised to make their mark on the global stage at the Paris Paralympics, aiming to further elevate the country’s position in the world of Paralympic sports.
