New Delhi: The 2024 Paralympics Games will kick off on Wednesday after the conclusion of the opening ceremony in Paris. With 84 para athletes, including 32 women athletes, India has targeted to record its best medal haul in the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympics this time.
India first participated in the Paralympics in 1968 in Tel Aviv (Israel), which is eight years after the first edition took place in Rome in 1960. But the Indian contingent returned without any medal.
It was Murlikant Petkar, who participated in table tennis in 1968, won India’s first gold medal at the 1972 Paralympics in Munich in men’s 50m freestyle 3 swimming event. It was India’s only as well as first medal in that edition.
There were no participants from India in the 1976 (Toronto) and 1980 (Moscow) editions. Despite a five-member contingent appeared in the 1984 Los Angeles Paralympics, India returned with a best tally of four medals – two silver and two bronze. Joginder Singh Bedi won three of the four medals (silver in men’s shot put throw L6, bronze in men’s javelin throw L6, and bronze in men’s discus throw L6).
🔥 The moment we’ve been waiting for is HERE! The Paralympic Games 2024 kick off tonight with the grand opening ceremony at 11:30 PM IST! 🇮🇳 Tune in to JioCinema or DD Sports to watch it LIVE and cheer for our champions!
From archery to athletics, our athletes are ready to make… pic.twitter.com/xqscbrk84w
— Paralympic Committee of India (@PCI_IN_Official) August 28, 2024
Rough phase for Indian Paralympics
India suffered a tough time in Paralympics event for four consecutive editions (1988-2000). The Indian contingent couldn’t account for a single medal at Seoul (1988), Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (200). Only two athletes participate in Seoul and four in Sydney while nine athletes were sent for Barcelona and Atlanta Games each time.
Devendra Jhajaria ends the barren run
It was Devendra Jhajharia, the current president of the Paralympics Committee of India, who ended India’s medal drought in Athens after 20 years. It was a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw (F44/46), and that too with a world record of 62.15m distance at that point.
Rajinder Singh Rahelu added a bronze medal in men’s 56kg powerlifting as India finished in 53rd place in the medal tally.
In 2008 Beijing Games, India didn’t had any podium finish and Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda’s silver medal in men’s F42 high jump was the solitary success for the Asian nation at the 2012 London Paralympics.
Devendra Jhajharia bettered his own world record with a 63.97m throw in men’s javelin throw (F44/46) to become first Indian para-athlete to win two gold medals at the quadrennial event. The record was smashed at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, where India won a total of four medals. Deepa Malik became the first Indian woman to win a medal in Para Games when she claimed a silver in women’s shot put (F-53) event.
Medal record set in Tokyo
The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics (held in 2021 owing to Covid-19 pandemic) happens to be India’s best ever campaign at the Summer Games. It was the first time the country managed to reach double-digit in the medals tally. The 54-member Indian contingent returned with five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals as India finished 24th in the overall medal tally standings with a total of 19 medals.
Sumit Antil (gold in men’s javelin throw F64 class), Avani Lekhara (women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1), Manish Narwal (men’s 50m pistol SH1 event), Pramod Bhagat (men’s singles SL3 class), and Krishna Nagar (men’s singles SH6 class) were the five gold medallists for India in Tokyo.
The 2024 Paralympics Games will kick off on Wednesday after the conclusion of the opening ceremony in Paris. With 84 para athletes, including 32 women athletes, India has targeted to record its best medal haul in the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympics this time. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
