The Paris 2024 Paralympics officially began with a grand opening ceremony on August 28, with competitions kicking off the next day and set to conclude on September 8. This edition of the Paralympics has seen 4,400 athletes from across the globe compete in 549 medal events spanning 22 sports, delivering some of the most inspiring moments in sports history.
India has made headlines by achieving its best-ever medal haul at a single Paralympic Games, securing seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronze medals. The nation has surpassed its previous record from the Tokyo Paralympics, solidifying its position among the world’s top para-sporting nations.
India’s Medal Surge: Gold Medals Highlight Historic Feats
India’s impressive medal run in Paris was highlighted by Praveen Kumar, who clinched the gold in the men’s high jump T64 event with a leap of 2.08m, marking his second consecutive Paralympic medal following a silver in Tokyo. This victory marked India’s sixth gold of the Games, setting a new national record.
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Dharambir Singh added to the gold tally by setting an Asian Record with a throw of 34.92m in the men’s club throw F51 final. In the same event, Pranav Soorma won silver with a 34.59m throw, showcasing India’s dominance in the category.
Harvinder Singh made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in para archery at the Paralympics. He defeated Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in the men’s individual recurve open final, securing his second straight Paralympic medal.
Sumit Antil continued India’s gold rush with a commanding performance in the men’s javelin throw F64, setting a new Paralympic record of 70.59m. Meanwhile, para-badminton star Nitesh Kumar added to the gold count with his triumph in the men’s singles SL3 category.
Silver and Bronze Medals Add to India’s Unprecedented Success
Simran brought home bronze in the women’s 200m T12 event, clocking a personal best of 24.75 seconds. In the men’s javelin F41 final, Navdeep’s throw of 47.32 m initially won him silver, which was later upgraded to gold after the disqualification of Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah.
Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu, both stalwarts in the high jump T63 category, won silver and bronze, respectively. The event on September 3 was a remarkable display of Indian talent and resilience on the world stage.
India’s shooting contingent also shone brightly, with Avani Lekhara winning gold and Mona Agarwal securing bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Manish Narwal added silver in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1, and Rubina Francis claimed bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1, further enhancing India’s medal tally.
Thrilling Performances Across Disciplines: India’s Athletes Shine
Kapil Parmar contributed to India’s 25th medal with a bronze in the men’s -60kg J1 judo category, defeating Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira. Meanwhile, Yogesh Kathuniya’s silver in the men’s discus F56 added to India’s growing list of accolades in field events.
Indian para-archers continued to impress as Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar clinched a bronze medal by narrowly defeating Italy’s Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina 156-155 in a tense match. This was India’s second para archery medal following Harvinder Singh’s triumph in Tokyo.
Nishad Kumar won silver in the men’s high jump T47 final, while Preethi Pal earned a bronze in the women’s 200m T35 event, further showcasing India’s depth and talent in athletics.
Global Paralympics Medal Tally: India’s Remarkable Rise
While India celebrated its record-breaking performance, China maintained a commanding lead atop the medal standings with 215 medals, including 93 golds. Great Britain followed in second place, while the United States held third with 47 golds.
India’s unprecedented success at the Paris 2024 Paralympics is a testament to the athletes’ dedication, the support of the Paralympic committee, and the growing prominence of para-sports in the country. As the Games draw to a close, India’s remarkable achievements stand as a beacon of inspiration, setting new standards and aspirations for future generations of para-athletes.
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