Paralympics 2024: India achieves its highest-ever medal tally in Paralympic history

With an impressive kickoff at the Paris Paralympics 2024, Indian para-athletes have shown the nation how to clinch medals. The exceptional performance of the specially-abled athletes has given us 20 total medals until the sixth day of the competition. This is the country’s best-ever medal haul in the Paralympics, surpassing the 19 medal tally of the Tokyo Paralympics. Currently, on the seventh day, India ranks 19th at the table with 3 golds, 7 silvers, and 10 bronze medals.

The accomplishment was speculated even before the competition started, as the Indian squad looked much stronger than previous seasons. Until now, our Para athletes have not disappointed us with their performance; they have given us plenty of moments to cheer in the competition.

As speculated, Avani Lekara and Sumit Antil have successfully defended their Tokyo Gold in the women’s 10 m riffle SL1 and men’s javelin F64 categories. While Nitesh Kumar clinched the country’s third gold medal, winning the men’s singles SL3 badminton competition. Avani Lekhara became the first female paraathlete with double gold, while the javelin maestro broke his record with a 70.59-meter throw.

Ajeet Singh and world record holder Sundar Singh Gurjar secured silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the men’s javelin throw F46 category. Athletes with limb loss and moderate impairments in arm movements are categorised under the F46 category.

Meanwhile, high jumpers Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched silver and bronze with 1.88m and 1.85m jumps, respectively, in the T63 category (athletes with lower limb impairment and affected movement in one leg).

The 20-year-old world champion Deepthi Jeevanji continued her brilliant form, securing bronze in the women’s 400m (T20) category. The 20-year-old recorded an exceptional time of 55.82 seconds in the clock, adding third-place glory in her debut games.

List of Medal Winners

• Avani Lekhara – Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 – Gold
• Nitesh Kumar – Men’s singles SL3 (Badminton) – Gold
• Sumit Antil – Javelin throw F64 (Athletics) – Gold
• Manish Narwal – Men’s 10m air pistol SH1 (Shooting) – Silver
• Nishad Kumar – Men’s high jump T47 (Athletics) – Silver
• Yogesh Kathuniya – Men’s discus throw F56 (Athletics) – Silver
• Thulasimathi Murugesan – Women’s singles SU5 (Badminton) – Silver
• Suhas Yathiraj – Men’s singles SL4 (Badminton) – Silver
• Sharad Kumar – Men’s high jump T6 final – Silver
• Ajeet Singh – Men’s javelin throw F46 event – Silver
• Mona Agarwal – Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 (Shooting) – Bronze
• Preethi Pal – Women’s 100m T35 (Athletics) – Bronze
• Preethi Pal – Women’s 200m T35 (Athletics) – Bronze
• Rubina Francis – Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Shooting) – Bronze
• Manisha Ramadass – Women’s singles SUS (Badminton) – Bronze
• Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal Devi – Mixed team compound open (Athletics) – Bronze
• Nithya Sre Sivan – Women’s singles SH6 (Badminton) – Bronze
• Mariyappan Thangavelu – Men’s high jump T6 final – Bronze
• Deepthi Jeevanji – Women’s 400m T20 final – Bronze
• Sundar Singh Gurjar – Men’s javelin throw F46 event – Bronze

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