29 medals with 7 Gold: A look at the groundbreaking success of India Paralympics team in Paris

The India Paralympics team concluded the Paris Paralympics 2024 with a historic performance, securing a record-breaking total of 29 medals. India’s best-ever showing at the Paralympic Games ended on Sunday with a remarkable tally of seven gold medals, nine silver, and 13 bronze, elevating India to the top 20 in the overall standings. The team’s previous best performance came at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, where India won 19 medals, including 5 golds. However, just three years later, the contingent not only surpassed this achievement but came close to reaching 30 medals.

India Paralympics campaign wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with para canoeist Pooja Ojha competing in the women’s kayak single 200m KL1 event. She was eliminated in the semi-finals with a time of 1:17.23. Ojha was the only Indian athlete in action on the final day of the Paris Paralympics, which was to conclude with a star-studded closing ceremony at the Stade de France. Ironically, Ojha’s medal-less performance on the final day meant that India ended the Paris Paralympics in the same manner it began—without securing a medal.

The record-breaking campaign of India Paralympics team in Paris

The medal tally for India at the Paris Paralympics started to build on the second day of the tournament when Avani Lekhara won a gold medal in the Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 final. India earned its second medal in this event when Mona Agarwal finished third to claim the bronze. Overall, the India Paralympics team accumulated 4 medals on the second day, including Preethi Pal’s historic bronze in the women’s 100m T35 event, marking India’s first-ever track medal. Manish Narwal also contributed with a silver medal in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1 final.

From the four medals won on the second day, the Indian contingent went on to secure medals for the next nine consecutive days until they had a blank day on Sunday. India’s most successful day at the Paris Paralympics was the fifth day when they earned eight medals. Yogesh Kathuniya began the day with a silver in the discus throw F56 event. Nitesh Kumar added a second gold for India by winning the men’s singles SL3 para badminton event.

The para badminton team continued its winning streak with Thulasimathi Murugesan taking silver in women’s singles SU5, Manisha Ramadass winning bronze in the same event, and Suhas Yathiraj claiming silver in men’s singles SL4. Nithya Sre rounded off the day for para badminton with a bronze in women’s singles SH6.

India's third gold of the day came when Sumit Antil triumphed in the men’s javelin throw F64 final. The day concluded with an eighth medal for India as Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar secured bronze in the mixed team compound open event in para archery. Over the following two days, India added a total of 17 medals, showcasing a marked improvement from the initial slow start.

Preethi Pal stood out as the only multiple medal winner from the India Paralympics team, making history by winning two bronzes in the same edition of the Paralympic Games. Her victories in the women’s 100m T35 and 200m T35 events made her the first Indian woman to achieve this feat. India reached the 25-medal mark on Day 8 when Kapil Parmar won bronze, becoming the first-ever Indian to medal in para judo.

Following Avani Lekhara’s gold in para shooting and Nitesh Kumar’s medal in para badminton, the remaining seven gold medals for India were earned by Harvinder Singh in para archery, Dharambir in club throw, Praveen Kumar in high jump, and Navdeep Singh, who upgraded from silver to gold in javelin throw.

All the medals won by India Paralympics team at the Paris Paralympics

Gold Medals

Avani Lekhara - Para Shooting, Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1
Nitesh Kumar - Badminton, Men’s singles SL3
Sumit Antil - Athletics, Javelin throw F64
Harvinder Singh - Archery, Men’s individual recurve open
Dharambir - Athletics, Men’s club throw F51
Praveen Kumar - Athletics, Men’s high jump T64
Navdeep Singh - Athletics, Men’s javelin throw F41

Silver Medals

Manish Narwal - Shooting, Men’s 10m air pistol SH1
Nishad Kumar - Athletics, Men’s high jump T47
Yogesh Kathuniya - Athletics, Men’s discus throw F56
Thulasimathi Murugesan - Badminton, Women’s singles SU5
Suhas Yathiraj - Badminton, Men’s singles SL4
Sharad Kumar - Athletics, Men’s high jump T6
Ajeet Singh - Athletics, Men’s javelin throw F46
Sachin Khilari - Athletics, Men’s shot put F46
Pranav Soorma - Athletics, Men’s club throw F51

Bronze Medals

Mona Agarwal - Shooting, Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1
Preethi Pal - Athletics, Women’s 100m T35
Rubina Francis - Shooting, Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1
Preethi Pal - Shooting, Women’s 200m T35
Manisha Ramadass - Badminton, Women’s singles SU5
Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal Devi - Archery, Mixed team compound open
Nithya Sre Sivan - Badminton, Women’s singles SH6
Deepthi Jeevanji - Athletics, Women’s 400m T20
Mariyappan Thangavelu - Athletics, Men’s high jump T6
Sundar Singh Gurjar - Athletics, Men’s javelin throw F46
Kapil Parmar - Judo, Men’s 60kg J1
Hokato Hotozhe Sema - Athletics, Men’s shot put F57
Simran Sharma - Athletics, Women’s 200m T12