Paris: The curtains fell on India’s record-breaking Paralympic Games campaign on Sunday, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable moments and achievements. From Avani Lekhara‘s golden triumph to Navdeep‘s javelin victory, India’s para-athletes scripted a chapter of unparalleled glory.
With a staggering tally of seven gold medals and 29 medals in total, India surpassed its previous best at the Paralympics, securing a place among the top 20 nations. The country narrowly missed the top 15, falling short by just one gold medal.
The Paris Games marked several firsts for India. Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar‘s mixed team victory in recurve archery clinched India’s inaugural Paralympic medal in the sport. Kapil Parmar‘s bronze in judo and Harvinder Singh‘s gold in para archery added to the nation’s medal haul.
Hokato Hotozhe Sema, a debutant from Nagaland, became the first Paralympian from his state and secured a bronze medal in men’s shot put F57. Avani Lekhara and Mariyappan Thangavelu, both three-time Paralympic medalists, joined the elite club of Indian athletes with multiple medals.
Navdeep’s javelin gold was a testament to his exceptional performance, surpassing his personal best by a significant margin. The disqualification of his Iranian rival paved the way for his victory, solidifying India’s dominance in the event.
India showcased its strength in various sports, with four events featuring two Indian athletes on the podium. Dharambir and Pranav Soorma‘s one-two finish in men’s club throw F51 and Mona Agarwal‘s bronze in women’s 10m air rifle SH1 highlighted India’s dominance.
Praveen Kumar‘s gold medal in men’s high jump T64 was a remarkable achievement, as he cleared seven heights in a single attempt, including the gold-winning height of 2.08m. His consistent performance throughout the competition showcased his exceptional skills.
Ten Indian para athletes, including Sumit Antil, Harvinder Singh, Praveen Kumar, Suhas Yathiraj, Nishad Kumar, Sharad Kumar, Manish Narwal, Yogesh Kathuniya, Sundar Singh Gurjar, and Preethi Pal, became multiple Paralympic medalists in Paris. The Indian women’s contingent also contributed significantly, with 10 medalists securing a total of 11 medals.
Simran’s bronze medal in women’s 200m T12 was a well-deserved reward for her consistent performance throughout the games. Despite narrowly missing out on a medal in the 100m final, Simran’s personal best time of 24.75s in the 200m showcased her exceptional talent.
Preethi Pal’s double bronze medals in the 100m and 200m T35 events marked a historic achievement for India, as she became the first Indian para athlete to win multiple medals in Paris.
Sumit Antil, the reigning world record holder in men’s javelin throw F64, once again demonstrated his exceptional skills. While he fell short of breaking his world record in Paris, he set a new Paralympic record with a throw of 70.59m.
Avani Lekhara successfully defended her gold medal in women’s 10m air rifle SH1, breaking her own Paralympic record set in Tokyo. Her consistent performance and mental fortitude secured her victory, despite a close finish with her Korean rival.
