Paralympics: India puts up a super show

Paris, Sept 4: The Paris Paralympics 2024 have brought a wave of excitement as India has achieved its best-ever medal haul at a single edition of the Games. With the event continuing until September 8, Indian athletes have already surpassed their Tokyo 2020 tally, securing a total of 20 medals—three gold, seven silver, and ten bronze.

The latest figures, updated on September 4, reveal that China continues to lead the medal table with an impressive 112 medals, including 51 golds. Great Britain holds second place with 59 medals, while the USA is in third with 53 medals. India, currently in 17th place, is making headlines with its outstanding performance, outpacing its previous best.

Highlights from Day 6 of the Games include notable performances by Indian athletes. Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu earned silver and bronze in the men’s high jump T63 event, respectively. Ajeet Singh clinched a silver medal, and Sundar Singh Gurjar won bronze in the men’s javelin F46 event. Additionally, Deepthi Jeevanji secured a bronze in the women’s 400m T20 event.

India’s gold medals came from Sumit Antil, who set a Paralympic record in the men’s javelin throw F64 with a remarkable 70.59m throw, and Nitesh Kumar in para badminton men’s singles SL3. Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass added to the medal tally with silver and bronze in the women’s singles SU5 event. Nithya Sre also contributed by winning bronze in the women’s singles SH6 category.

Yogesh Kathuniya won silver in the men’s discus F56 final, while Suhas Yathiraj narrowly missed out on gold in the men’s singles SL4 category. The Indian para archery team, comprising Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, won a bronze medal in the mixed team event.

In shooting, Avani Lekhara bagged gold and Mona Agarwal won bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 category. Manish Narwal and Rubina Francis also contributed to the medal haul with silver and bronze in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1 and women’s 10m air pistol SH1 events, respectively.

The 2024 Paralympics feature 4,400 athletes from around the world competing in 549 medal events across 22 sports. The Games, which officially opened on August 28, are showcasing a high level of competition and inspiring performances from athletes globally.

As the Games progress, India’s athletes continue to make their mark, showcasing their dedication and skill on the world stage. The nation eagerly awaits further successes as the Paralympics move towards its conclusion.