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Yuvaraja Karunakaran

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Can the India Paralympics team set a new medal record in Paris 2024?

Can the India Paralympics team set a new medal record in Paris 2024?

Can the India Paralympics team set a new medal record in Paris 2024?

The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics was a game-changer for India. The record-breaking performances by our athletes in the Tokyo Paralympics edition have certainly fueled the nation's hopes for success at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Coming into the 2024 Paralympic Games, India’s Para athletes are on a high. It was the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 that turned things around. India won 19 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics five gold, eight silver and six bronze. This 19-medal haul showcased exceptional talent by our athletes and bridged the gap between the Indian audience and Paralympic sports. With 4 days left for the Paris Paralympics 2024, we take a look at the India Paralympics team's chances to set a new medal record in Paris 2024.

Can the India Paralympics team set a new medal record in Paris 2024?

1. All you need to know about the India Paralympics history

The India Paralympics team's journey began with their Paralympic Games debut at Tel Aviv in 1968 and their success on the podium has only gone from strength to strength. 52 years after legendary swimmer Muralikant Rajaram Petkar won India's first-ever Paralympic medal with gold in the 50m freestyle at the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games, the India Paralympics contingent arrives in Paris looking for its best-ever Paralympic Games medal record. All good things come to those who wait, and that was certainly the case for India as they returned to the Paralympics podium at the 1984 Stoke Mandeville & New York edition, picking up two silver and two bronze medals in Para athletics.

After two decades of medal drought, India finally ended the long wait at the 2004 Athens Paralympics when Devendra Jhajharia won the gold medal in javelin throw and Rajinder Singh clinched the bronze medal in powerlifting (56kg category). Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 were the Paralympic Games that placed India more firmly on the Paralympics' global map. India made a stellar comeback at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games with four medals. Devendra Jhajharia won the gold medal in the javelin throw F46 category, while Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched the gold medal in the high jump F42 category. On the flip side, Deepa Malik won the silver medal in the shot put and Varun Singh Bhati grabbed a bronze medal in the high jump F42.

2. A look at how the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics changed India's perception of disability and sports

The India Paralympics contingent had a total of 54 athletes participating in the 2020 Summer Paralympic Games. India won 19 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics five gold, eight silver and six bronze. It was India’s best-ever Paralympics. Shooting emerged as the biggest contributor for India with 5 medals, followed by high jump and badminton with 4 medals each. The 2020 Tokyo Paralympics campaign was a historic one for India, with star shooter Avani Lekhara becoming the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. Bhavina Patel became the first Indian table tennis player to win a Paralympic medal and Harvinder Singh became the first Indian to win a Paralympic medal in archery.

Dominance at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics was not restricted only to the India para-shooting contingent. History was scripted through the Para-badminton events as well. Para-badminton turned out to be another goldmine for India as Pramod Bhagat and Krishna Nagar won gold medals in the men's singles SL3 and SH6 events, respectively. Star Para-badminton player Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj was the first civil servant to win a Paralympic silver medal in SL4 men's singles. As the Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist Sumit Antil rightly puts it, "Abhi log hamara naam toh jante hain," it will be interesting to see whether the India Paralympics team can better their medal tally in the Paris Paralympics 2024.

3. Can the India Paralympics team set a new medal record in Paris 2024?

The Indian Paralympics team is all set for the 2024 Paralympic Games with its largest-ever Paralympics contingent. With 4 days left for the Paris Paralympics 2024 which is starting on August 28, the India Paralympics team is training harder than ever to put on their best-ever performance following the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics success. The 84-member squad is a perfect combination of experienced Paralympians and young athletes. Sumit Antil, Avani Lekhara, Manish Narwal and Krishna Nagar are all set to lead the Indian team with their impressive track records and recent successes.

They are joined by Sheetal Devi, Manasi Joshi, Mona Agarwal, Bhagyashree Jadhav and Harvinder Singh who are all ready to clinch gold medals at the Paris Paralympics. Amidst all the buzz, it will be interesting to see whether the India Paralympics team can better their medal tally in Paris Paralympics 2024. The 2024 Paralympic Games will run from August 28 to September 8. Sumit Antil and Bhagyashree Jadhav are India's flagbearers at the Paris Paralympics 2024 opening ceremony which takes place on Wednesday, August 28.

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