Google Doodle bids farewell to Paris 2024 Paralympics with special tribute

As per the official website of the Olympics, a record 84 para-athletes reperesented India at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, taking place in the French capital from August 28 to September 8.

India competed in 12 different disciplines, three more than at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The Indian contingent is also debuted in three new sports at Paris 2024—para-cycling, para-rowing, and blind judo.

India’s performance at the Games has been impressive. Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic golds, successfully defending her title in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event with a world record score. Mona Agarwal’s bronze in the same event marked the first double podium finish for India in a single Paralympic event.

India also achieved its first-ever one-two finish in athletics, with Dharambir and Parnav Soorma taking gold and silver, respectively, in the men’s club throw F51. Dharambir set a new Asian record of 34.92m. Praveen Kumar also broke an Asian record to claim the high jump T64 title, earning India its sixth gold medal at Paris 2024—India’s highest-ever Paralympic gold tally.

Sheetal Devi, an armless archer, briefly set a world record during the ranking round before finishing second. She then teamed up with Rakesh Kumar to set a world record in the compound mixed team qualification round. At just 17, Sheetal became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist by winning bronze in the mixed team event alongside Rakesh.

India also celebrated its first Paralympic archery champion, Harvinder Singh.

Sumit Antil made history by becoming the first Indian man to defend a Paralympic title, winning gold in the men’s javelin throw F64 with a throw of 70.59 meters, breaking his record from Tokyo 2020 three times during the competition.

Mariyappan Thangavelu secured a bronze in the high jump T42 class, becoming the first Indian to win medals at three consecutive Paralympics, following his gold in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020.

Preethi Pal won bronze in the women’s 100m T35 event with a personal best, marking India’s first track event medal at the Paralympics. She later added another bronze in the 200m T35 race.

Deepthi Jeevanji made history as the first intellectually impaired Indian athlete to win a Paralympic medal, claiming bronze in the women’s 400m T20 class.

So far, India has won 29 medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics—seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronze—making this India’s most successful Paralympics in terms of overall medals, surpassing the 19 won in Tokyo 2020. However, the five golds from Tokyo 2020 still stand as India’s best in terms of gold medal count.