From Archery to Powerlifting: India’s Historic Medal Haul at Paris 2024 Paralympics
From August 28 to September 8, the French capital witnessed the remarkable journey of 84 Indian para-athletes competing across 12 disciplines. This year’s Paralympics saw India surpass its previous record of 19 medals from Tokyo 2020, illustrating not just growth but an inspiring leap in the country’s Paralympic prowess.
The Paris 2024 Paralympics have drawn to a close, and India’s athletes have delivered a performance that will be remembered for years to come. With a historic tally of 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze, India has etched its name into the annals of Paralympic history, marking the nation’s most successful campaign to date.
This achievement not only symbolizes the country’s rapid progress in Paralympic sports but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation.
India Total Medals at Paris Paralympics 2024: 29 Medals
- Gold: 7
- Silver: 9
- Bronze: 13
Archery:
- Gold: 1 – Harvinder Singh (Men’s Individual Recurve Open)
- Silver: 0
- Bronze: 1 – Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi (Mixed Team Compound Open)
Best Performance: Harvinder Singh’s gold marked India’s first-ever Paralympic gold in archery, a major breakthrough for the sport in the country. At just 19, Sheetal Devi became the youngest Indian to win a Paralympic medal, signaling a bright future for Indian archery.
Athletics:
- Gold: 4
- Dharambir (Men’s Club Throw F51)
- Parnav Soorma (Men’s Club Throw F51)
- Praveen Kumar (Men’s High Jump T64)
- Navdeep Singh (Men’s Javelin Throw F41)
- Silver: 6
- Nishad Kumar (Men’s High Jump T47)
- Yogesh Kathuniya (Men’s Discus Throw F56)
- Ajeet Singh (Men’s Javelin Throw F46)
- Sundar Singh Gurjar (Men’s Javelin Throw F46)
- Sachin Khilari (Men’s Shot Put F46)
- Sharad Kumar (Men’s High Jump T63)
- Bronze: 7
- Preethi Pal (Women’s 100m T35)
- Preethi Pal (Women’s 200m T35)
- Mariyappan Thangavelu (Men’s High Jump T63)
- Hokato Hotozhe Sema (Men’s Shot Put F57)
- Simran (Women’s 200m T12)
- Deepthi Jeevanji (Women’s 400m T20)
- Kavitha Devi (Women’s 800m T54)
Best Performance: Indian athletes not only competed but excelled, clinching medals across a diverse range of sports. Track-and-field alone contributed 17 of the total medals, with standout performances from athletes like Navdeep Singh and Simran.
Navdeep Singh’s gold in the men’s javelin throw F41 came with a dramatic twist—after initially receiving silver, he was awarded gold following a disqualification. His victory was a fitting end to a campaign filled with emotional highs and lows.
Badminton:
- Gold: 1 – Nitesh Kumar (Men’s Singles SL3)
- Silver: 2
- Thulasimathi Murugesan (Women’s Singles SU5)
- Suhas Yathiraj (Men’s Singles SL4)
- Bronze: 2
- Manisha Ramadass (Women’s Singles SU5)
- Nithya Sre Sivan (Women’s Singles SH6)
Best Performances: Nitesh Kumar‘s victory in men’s singles SL3 further cemented India’s growing reputation in para-badminton. Additionally, Suhas Yathiraj, already a well-known figure, added another silver to his Paralympic career.
Judo:
- Bronze: 1 – Kapil Parmar (Men’s -60kg J1)
Best Performance: Kapil Parmar created history by winning India’s first-ever Paralympic judo medal in the -60kg J1 category. His journey reflects resilience and dedication to overcoming the odds.
Shooting:
- Gold: 1 – Avani Lekhara (Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1)
- Silver: 1 – Manish Narwal (Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1)
- Bronze: 2
- Rubina Francis (Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1)
- Mona Agarwal (Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1)
Noteworthy: Avani Lekhara once again etched her name in the history books by defending her title in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1. Her world-record score was one of the highlights of the Paralympics. Manish Narwal, too, stood out with a silver in the 10m Air Pistol SH1, while Rubina Francis continued her excellent form to secure bronze.
India’s 29-medal haul at the Paris 2024 Paralympics is more than just a tally of achievements; it represents the indomitable spirit of these athletes and the growing support for Paralympic sports in India.
Each medal tells a story of resilience, dedication, and passion, as India’s Paralympians continue to set new standards on the global stage.
Read More: India at Olympics 2024: A Legacy of Medals and Glory
