New Delhi: After an unprecedented medal haul of 29 at the recently-concluded Paris Paralympics, India’s medal winner returned to hero’s welcome on Tuesday. While some of the champions had earlier arrived in India, the likes of Sumit Antil, Harvinder Singh and Sheetal Devi made their way out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi.
The Indian contingent made the country proud by bagging a record 29 medals at the Paralympics, surpassing the haul of 19 achieved in Tokyo three years bag. From visually impaired to armless athletes, India’s medal winners rose to new heights in the ‘city of love’. Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by hundreds of supporters with garlands and sweets as they came out of the airport.
Dhol and chants welcome Paralympic champs
Euphoric chants and customary dhol hailed the athletes outside the Delhi airport on Tuesday morning as scores of supporters, sports administrators and families of the athletes lined up to appreciate the performance. Sumit Antil, who clinched a second successive gold in the F64 category by breaking his own Games record with a throw of 70.59m, thanked everyone for the grand welcome.
“When you prepare well, you automatically feel confident. I will try to breach the 75m mark soon. I have not had tea for a few days, I would like to have tea with my family,” Antil said.
Apart from Antil, archer Harvinder Singh, was also glad by the kind of appreciation they received. With impaired legs, he became the first Indian archer to win gold after becoming the country’s first medallist in the sport three years ago in Tokyo with a bronze.
Sheetal Devi, who was born without arms, said that any person who is distressed or defeatd can take inspiration from the para-athletes. Sheetal won the mixed team bronze with Rakesh Kumar after missing an individual medal by a whisker. Another Javelin thrower Navdeep, who won the gold medal with a personal best of 47.32m, was lifted by his supporters as he celebrated with them.
India’s Paralympic champs Navdeep Singh, Harvinder Singh, Sheetal Devi among others received hero’s welcome upon arrival in Delhi on Tuesday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
