Shafaqna Sports: India’s para-athletes, determined and resilient, can look back on their Paralympics campaign with immense pride. Most of the established names met expectations, while many talented newcomers made a mark on the global stage, contributing to a record-breaking medal haul of 29.
Among these 29 medals, seven were gold, another milestone for a country that only began to establish its presence in the 2016 Paralympics, where it won four medals. The improvement since then has been remarkable, with 19 medals in Tokyo, a number that was surpassed this time.
Archer Sheetal Devi, who won a mixed team bronze, became a crowd favorite in Paris. Many medal-winning performances were record-breaking and personal bests, showing the athletes’ significant progress in self-belief.
India’s 29 medals in five sports, including 17 in track and field events, secured a top-20 finish at the mega-event, which was again dominated by China with over 200 medals.
While India still has a way to go to become a powerhouse at the Olympic level, it has certainly emerged as a force in the Paralympics. The 84-member contingent achieved several firsts, including medals in track events, with sprinter Preethi Pal winning bronze in the women’s 100m T35 and 200m T35.
India also claimed its first-ever judo medal, with Kapil Parmar, 24, winning bronze in the men’s 60kg J1 class.
Athletes like Harvinder Singh and Dharambir boosted India’s position in the medal tally with groundbreaking gold medals in archery and club throw, respectively. Archer Sheetal Devi, born without arms, became an inspiration to millions and a fan favorite in Paris, using her legs to hit the bullseye and winning a mixed team bronze at the age of 17.
Athletes such as javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shooter Avani Lekhara, who won gold in Tokyo, faced high expectations. Sumit broke his own Paralympic record to claim a second consecutive javelin gold, while wheelchair-bound rifle shooter Lekhara dominated the air rifle SH1 final. Nitesh Kumar also secured a gold medal in badminton.