New Delhi: Javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shot putter Bhagyashri Jadhav proudly carried India’s flag at the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday.
The Indian contingent were greeted with a loud cheer from the officials seated at the entrance of venue of the opening ceremony that was held outside a stadium for the first time.
The 2024 edition is the 17th-ever Paralympics, with the first edition held in Rome in 1960. A total of 400 athletes from 23 countries took part in the inaugural Games.
It is the first time France’s is hosting the event where a record number of medal events will be held for women (236).
A total of 549 medal events across 22 sports will be held at Paris Paralympics with over 4,400 athletes from 168 contingents of the world taking part.
India have sent 84 athletes – 52 men and 32 women – at Paris. Accompanying them are 95 offcials making it India’s largest ever contingent at Paralympics.
Many of the venues used at Olympics that was held weeks ago in Paris will be used for the Paralympics, with the athletics events being staged at the Stade de France, Bercy Arena hosting wheelchair basketball and the Eiffel Tower Stadium transformed into a beach volleyball court to a blind football field.
A total of 18 venues that were used for Olympics will be used for 22 sports at the Paralympics.
Watch India’s Contingent at Paralympics 2024🇮🇳♥️pic.twitter.com/aIilJ5alAz
— The Khel India 2.0 (@BharatAtOlympic) August 28, 2024
India’s history at Paralympics
India claimed 19 medals (five gold, eight silver and six bronze) at Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. They finished 24th in the medals tally. At Paris, the Paralympic Committee of India is confident of reaching 25 medals.
India’s first Paralympic medal was won by swimmer Murlikant Petkar, who won gold in 1972 in Heidelberg in the men’s class 3 50m freestyle event.
In subsequent editions, India struggled to finish in the podium until Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 where the country won more gold and total medals than at all previous Games combined.
India have sent 84 athletes at Paris Paralympics, making it the country’s largest ever contingent at the event. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
