Indian para-athlete has created history by winning 29 medals in the Paralympics, which is much more than his previous performance in Tokyo. India won 10 more medals in Paris than in the Tokyo Para-Olympics. Sumit Antil and Navdeep Singh won gold medals in the javelin throw, Due to which India’s performance remained strong in a sport traditionally dominated by Europeans. India’s Paralympic contingent completed its most successful campaign so far at the Paris 2024 Games, winning 29 medals – seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze.
Which broke its previous record and finished 18th in the overall medal tally and established the country as a rising force in para-sports. As Sunday’s campaign ended, India celebrated its remarkable overall performance across multiple games, defeating powerful nations like Ukraine, Switzerland, South Korea, Belgium, and Argentina, all of whom were a step behind India’s Navdeep Singh, who won gold in the men’s javelin throw F41 classification, India’s got his 29th and final medal came courtesy of him. Navdeep won the silver medal with a throw of 47.32 meters, leaving China’s Sun Peng Xiang behind. Simran Sharma along with her guide Abhay Singh registered her name in India’s kitty by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 200 meters (T12) event. Indicating a return to form after missing the podium in the 100m sprint at the start of the Games, the 24-year-old visually impaired sprinter clocked a personal best of 24.75 seconds.
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India’s track-and-field athletes were particularly successful, winning a total of 17 medals, including four gold medals. Navdeep’s gold medal was compensation for missing out on a podium finish at the Tokyo Paralympics, while Preeti Pal created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in athletics by winning two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m (T35) sprints. Thulasimati Murugesan created history as the first Indian woman to win a medal in the sport by securing a silver medal in the women’s singles SU5, In badminton. Shooter Avani Lakhera successfully defended her Tokyo 2020 title in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 and became a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. Sumit Antil continued his dominance in the men’s javelin throw F64 event, breaking world records repeatedly to retain his title from Tokyo 2020.
Just 17-year-old young archery sensation Sheetal Devi became the youngest Indian Paralympic medalist by winning a bronze medal in the mixed team compound open event with her partner Rakesh Kumar. Becoming India’s first Paralympic gold medal winner in archery, Harvinder Singh registered his name in history. In the men’s club throw F51 event, Dharambir won the gold medal with an Asian record throw of 34.92 meters, while Pranav Surma won the silver medal. India’s stellar performance in Paris has set a new record for the country’s para-athletes, inspiring aspiring athletes. Strong performances across multiple disciplines including athletics, archery, badminton, and shooting will help India gain momentum in its Paralympic journey and do well at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
