Indian Paralympic team makes history

India’s para-athletes recently delivered a stellar performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, marking a new chapter in the nation’s sporting history. Walking away with 29 medals in total, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze, India secured 18th place among the participating nations. 

This achievement reflects the progress and determination of the athletes, as well as the support from the government, the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), and the dedicated coaching staff.

India’s Paralympic athletes not only secured medals but also shattered world, Paralympic, and Asian records. In archery, Sheetal Devi surpassed previous world and Paralympic records, missing the new record by just one point. In athletics, Sumit Antil set a new Paralympic record with a javelin throw of 70.59m, while Sharad Kumar, Dharambir, and Sachin Khilari broke records in high jump, club throw, and shot put, respectively.

In shooting, Avani Lekhara (pictured above) surpassed her own Paralympic record in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 event, securing a new record with a score of 249.7 points.

Team India achieved its best-ever single-day haul at the Paralympics, winning eight medals in Paris—two gold, three silver, and three bronze. This surpassed the previous record set at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where the team secured five medals in a single day.

Debutant Sheetal Devi, at just 17 years, 7 months, and 23 days, became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist, while Dharambir became the oldest athlete to win gold at the age of 35 years, 7 months. Both athletes set remarkable milestones in Indian sports history.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games saw record participation from Indian women athletes, with 32 female athletes among the 84-member contingent. Female athletes won a total of 10 medals—one gold, one silver, and eight bronze. Among them, seven were debutants, including Thulasimathi Murugesan, Sheetal Devi, and Manisha Ramadass.

Avani Lekhara became the only female participant from India to win back-to-back medals at the Paralympics, following her success in Tokyo 2020 and now Paris 2024.

India’s remarkable performance at the Paris Paralympics is a testament to the grit, determination, and hard work of the athletes and their support systems. With continuous efforts and focused development, the future of India’s para-athletes looks bright, and the country can look forward to more success in the global sporting arena.