India’s incredible journey at the Paris Paralympics 2024 has come to a remarkable end, with the nation clinching a record 29 medals, making this its most successful Paralympic campaign to date. Indian athletes showcased their extraordinary talent and determination, achieving 7 gold medals, 9 silvers, and 13 bronzes across various events, with athletics emerging as the standout discipline.
On the final day of the Paralympics, only one Indian athlete, Pooja Ojha, was in action. She competed in the women’s 200-meter KL1 category canoe sprint event. Despite her best efforts, Pooja narrowly missed out on a podium finish, securing the fourth spot. She completed the race in 1:27.23 minutes, while the bronze medalist from Italy clocked in at 1:04.03 minutes. The gold and silver medals in this event were claimed by athletes from Canada and China, respectively.
India’s performance in Paris surpassed expectations, breaking previous records and achieving new milestones. The country had set a target of 25 medals before the games, but the athletes exceeded this goal, adding 10 more medals to their tally compared to the Tokyo Paralympics. India’s medal haul in Tokyo had been 19, making this year’s total of 29 medals a historic achievement.
The increase in gold medals was particularly noteworthy. In Tokyo, India had won 5 gold medals, but in Paris, the athletes managed to secure 7 golds. Similarly, India improved its tally in both silver and bronze medals, with 9 silvers and 13 bronzes compared to the 8 silvers and 5 bronzes won in Tokyo.
Several athletes stood out during India’s successful campaign. Two of them, Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil, defended their titles from Tokyo, once again proving their dominance in their respective events. Avani Lekhara clinched gold in women’s standing rifle shooting, while Sumit Antil won gold in javelin throw, setting a new Paralympic record in the process.
India also celebrated its first-ever Paralympic gold in archery, thanks to Harvinder Singh. Dharambir added another first for India by winning gold in club throw. Navdeep Singh continued the javelin throw tradition by securing another gold in a different category. In para badminton, Nitesh Kumar struck gold, and Praveen Kumar soared to victory in the high jump event.
One of the most inspiring stories from the Paris Paralympics was that of 17-year-old archer Sheetal Devi. Despite not having hands, Sheetal showcased incredible accuracy, winning bronze in the mixed team event alongside Rakesh Kumar. Her determination and talent left a lasting impression on the world.
Athletics was undoubtedly the highlight of India’s performance at the Paralympics. The nation secured a staggering 17 medals in athletics alone, just two shy of the total medal count from all sports combined at the previous Tokyo Paralympics. New milestones were reached in various events, with Kapil Parmar becoming the first Indian athlete to win a bronze medal in judo. Harvinder Singh’s archery gold was another historic achievement.
Sprinter Preeti Pal made her mark by winning medals in two different events – bronze in both the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter races. Her versatility and speed added to India’s impressive medal tally.
Overall, India’s exceptional performance at the Paris Paralympics saw the nation finish 18th in the medal table, a significant improvement from the 24th position in Tokyo. The achievements of these para-athletes have not only made the nation proud but also inspired millions with their dedication and resilience.
