Paralympics was held in the French capital from August 28 to September 8. This edition of the Games marks India’s largest-ever participation, with athletes competing across 12 disciplines—an increase of three sports compared to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. New additions to the roster this year include para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo, further broadening the scope of India’s involvement.
The Indian para athletes have delivered outstanding performances, showcasing remarkable skill and determination. Among the standout achievements, Avani Lekhara has made history by becoming the first Indian woman to secure two gold medals at the Paralympic Games. She not only defended her title in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event but also set a new world record with her performance. In a landmark achievement, Lekhara’s success was complemented by Mona Agarwal’s bronze medal, marking the first time India achieved a double podium finish in a single event at the Paralympics.
The athletics arena has also witnessed unprecedented success for India. For the first time, Indian athletes Dharambir and Parnav Soorma achieved a one-two finish in the men’s club throw F51 event, with Dharambir clinching gold and Soorma securing silver. Dharambir’s gold-winning throw of 34.92 meters also set a new Asian record. Praveen Kumar continued the winning streak by setting an Asian record in the high jump T64 event, adding another gold medal to India’s tally and elevating the country’s total to six golds, its highest ever at the Paralympics.
In archery, Sheetal Devi made headlines by briefly setting a world record in the ranking round before finishing second. Teaming up with Rakesh Kumar, she set a world record score in the compound mixed team qualification event. At just 17 years old, Sheetal made history as India’s youngest Paralympic medallist, securing bronze in the mixed team event with Rakesh Kumar.
Harvinder Singh’s triumph in archery was another milestone for India, as he became the country’s first-ever Paralympic champion in the sport. Sumit Antil, a javelin thrower, also achieved a historic feat by defending his title in the men’s javelin throw F64 event. Antil’s impressive throw of 70.59 meters not only earned him gold but also set a new Paralympic record, surpassing his own previous record from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Remarkably, he broke his own record three times during the competition.
Mariyappan Thangavelu made his mark as well, winning a bronze in the high jump T42 class and becoming the first Indian to secure medals in three consecutive Paralympics. Thangavelu’s journey began with a gold medal at Rio 2016, followed by a silver at Tokyo 2020, and now a bronze in Paris.
Preethi Pal added to India’s track and field success by securing a bronze in the women’s 100m T35 race, setting a personal best time in the process. Her achievement was historic as it marked India’s first-ever medal in a track event at the Paralympics. Pal furthered her success with another bronze in the 200m T35 race.
Deepthi Jeevanji also made history at Paris 2024 by becoming the first intellectually impaired Indian athlete to win a Paralympic medal, clinching bronze in the women’s 400m T20 class.
As of now, India has won a total of 29 medals—seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronzes—at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. This remarkable achievement makes the Paris Games India’s most successful Paralympics in history in terms of medal count, surpassing the 19 medals won at Tokyo 2020. However, the five gold medals from Tokyo 2020 remain the pinnacle of India’s Paralympic success. The achievements in Paris 2024 underscore the exceptional talent and dedication of Indian para athletes, highlighting a new era of excellence in the country’s Paralympic history.
who get gold madel paralympic in paris 2024
In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, India’s Navdeep Singh was awarded the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 category after an initial controversy involving the disqualification of Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah. Singh, who competes in the classification for athletes of short stature, originally secured a silver medal with a throw of 47.32 meters, surpassing the world record holder Sun Pengxiang of China.
However, Singh’s silver was upgraded to gold following Sayah’s disqualification. The Iranian athlete had displayed an objectionable flag during the event, leading to his removal from the final standings. This unexpected development resulted in Singh being promoted to gold—a historic achievement as it marks India’s first-ever gold medal in this particular javelin throw category.
In the intense final, Navdeep initially threw a foul but soon found his stride. With a personal best of 44.29 meters and a season best of 42.82 meters entering the competition, he made a significant leap with a second attempt of 46.39 meters, placing him in second. His third throw, a remarkable 47.32 meters, set a new Paralympic record and placed him in the lead, albeit