When a record 54 para athletes took part in the Tokyo Games three years ago, the best performance was always expected. And they did not disappoint, returning with a record haul of 19 medals – five gold, eight silver and six bronze. India had won only four gold medals in its Paralympic history before Tokyo.
So, when India left for the Paris Games this year, it set a lofty target of 25 medals as a record 84 para athletes headed to the French capital.
India’s spirits were slightly dampened after the country’s able-bodied athletes returned from Paris without hitting the double-digit mark. India won six medals at the Summer Olympics, one short of their record seven medals in Tokyo.
But the stellar performance of the Indian para athletes surprised everyone and they not only achieved their goal but also surpassed it in a spectacular manner. India won 29 medals in Paris – seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze. What a spectacular performance!
Athletics – India’s Medal Reserve
- Athletics brought India 17 medals – more than half of the total medals – 58.62%.
- With four gold medals, its share in the total gold medals is also almost the same – 57.14%.
Other sports that won medals for India
- Badminton: 5 medals – one gold, two silver and two bronze
- Shooting: 4 medals – one gold, one silver and two bronze
- Archery: 2 medals – one gold and one bronze
- Judo: 1 medal – a bronze
How India won its best ever 29 medals at the Paris Paralympics
India did not score any goals on the first day of competition in Paris. But that was just a small part of the exciting journey of Indian para athletes. After that, they won medals every day in the next nine competitive days and shattered all expectations.
It was a really great three days for India. From Day 5 to Day 7, India won 17 medals – more than half of the total medals. Before that, let’s find out how it all started.
Avni Lekhara and Mona Agarwal
Shooters opened India’s account
India’s first medal in Paris came from Tokyo gold medallist shooter Avani Lekhara, who retained her title in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 standings. It was a double celebration for India as Mona Agarwal won a bronze medal in the same event. Lekhara became the first Indian female athlete to win multiple medals. Paralympics,
On the same day, Manish Narwal won a silver medal in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1, and sprinter Preeti Pal won a bronze medal in the women’s 100m – T35. India opened their account in style by winning four medals on the day.
The calm days before a big tsunami
Shooter Rubina Francis ensured India did not remain empty-handed on day three, winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1. It was India’s only medal of the day.
Athletics maintained the medal tally on the fourth day of competition, winning a silver and a bronze. Nishad Kumar won silver in men’s high jump – T47, while sprinter Preeti Pal won bronze in women’s 200m – T35. Pal finished the Paris Games as the only multi-medalist from India.
Seven medals in the first four days was a good start but not the kind of medal India had hoped for with a target of 25 medals.
The floodgates open – three days, 17 medals
Over the next three days India won an unprecedented 17 medals, including four gold.
Day 5 — The day began with a silver medal in the men’s discus throw (F56) event. Yogesh Kathuniya stood proudly on the podium.
Shuttlers also joined the party, with Nitesh Kumar winning gold in men’s singles SL3. Badminton also won four more medals on the same day – silver for Thulasimati Murugesan in women’s singles SU5, bronze for Manisha Ramdas in women’s singles SU5, silver for Suhas LY in men’s singles SL4 and bronze for Nitya Sri Sumati Sivam in women’s singles SH6.
Sumit won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event – F64. Para archers made it memorable by winning the bronze medal in the mixed team compound open event. Amazing feat without arms cool goddess And the veteran Rakesh Kumar made it a day for India with eight medals – his best ever one-day performance.
India’s para archers Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi
Day 6 — India did not have a good start as Avani Lekhara missed her second medal in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 final.
Late in the evening, athletics made up for the day’s sluggishness by winning five medals in a row.
Deepti Jeevanjee started with a bronze medal in the women’s 400m event – T20. India then achieved a double podium by winning silver and bronze medals respectively in the men’s high jump – T63. Within an hour, India achieved another double podium. This time in the men’s javelin throw event – F46, Ajeet Singh won silver and Sundar Singh Gurjar won bronze.
Thus, India won five medals on the day and, more importantly, officially made it their best ever Paralympic campaign with 20 medals. And there were still five days of competition left in Paris.
Day 7 — Buoyed by their best ever performance, Indian athletes entered the competition with the goal of breaking records at the Paralympic Games. And the athletes did not disappoint with their next target – 25 medals.
Sachin Sarjerao opened the day’s account by winning a silver medal in the men’s shot put event – F46. Athletics then gave India its first gold-silver medal in Paris, with Dharambir and Pranav Surma winning the top two awards in the men’s club throw event – F51.
Archer Harvinder Singh added the icing on the cake by winning India’s first archery gold at the Paralympics, winning the men’s individual recurve open title.
Achieve a target of 25 points
India was on the verge of creating history by winning 24 medals in seven days.
The next day Kapil Parmar won a bronze medal in Judo in the men’s -60kg J1, making it a 25-medal haul for India, a truly historic moment for Indian Paralympians. It was the only medal of the day, but it was undoubtedly historic.
Setting a new standard
Having achieved the target of 25 medals, India aimed to add as many medals as possible in the few remaining events in the competition.
High jumper Praveen Kumar gave India its sixth gold medal in Paris with a win in the final of the men’s T64 event. Havildar Hokato Hotoze Sema added another medal for India by winning a bronze medal in the men’s shot put event – F57.
Navdeep Singh and Simran won gold and bronze respectively on the final day of the Paralympics on Saturday, taking India’s medal tally to 29. Navdeep won the top prize in the men’s javelin throw event – F41 and Simran finished third in the women’s 200m event – T12.
With one more gold and a bronze medal on the 10th day of competition, India finished its campaign with seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze medals – an unprecedented 29 medals in total.
