How many gold medals have India's athletes won in the Paralympics history?

The excitement isn't over as we bid farewell to the Paris Olympics 2024. In just a few weeks, we'll have another chance to cheer our fellow Indian athletes. The 2024 Paralympic Games are just around the corner and will run from August 28 to September 8, with the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, August 28. This year, over 4,400 athletes will compete in 22 sports, spanning 549 events. The 2024 Summer Paralympics promises to be a spectacular 11-day event. Unlike the Summer Olympic Games, where the Indian hockey team has contributed to India's success in the early days, the Paralympics has been completely opposite seeing individual athletes take up the role to bring glory to the country. India has won 31 medals, including nine gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze in the Paralympics since its introduction in 1960. In this blog, we take a look at all India's athletes who have won a gold medal at the Paralympics.

How many gold medals have India's athletes won in the Paralympics history?

1. Muralikant Rajaram Petkar - India's First Paralympic Gold Medalist (1972 Heidelberg Paralympics)

Amidst all the excitement of the Paris Paralympics 2024, Director Kabir Khan and actor Kartik Aaryan's film "Chandu Champion" has inspired India Paralympics athletes. Muralikant Rajaram Petkar was India's first-ever Paralympic gold medallist. Murlikant clinched the gold medal in the 50 m freestyle swimming at the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games. Back then, he had set a world record in swimming with an impressive 37.33 seconds.

Murlikant went on to participate in the 1968 Tel Aviv Paralympics and reached the finals in javelin throw and slalom racing along with bagging a gold in the 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics. He also clinched a gold medal at the 1970 Edinburgh Commonwealth Paraplegic Games. His efforts were finally recognised in 2018 when he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Indian government.

2. Devendra Jhajharia - Gold medal at the 2004 Athens Paralympics and the 2016 Rio Paralympics

Though India competed at every Paralympic Games since 1984, they had to wait till the 2004 Athens Paralympics for their next gold medallist. India's javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia finally broke the drought with a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F44/46 event. Devendra managed a distance of 62.15 metres, which also set the then-world record in the event. Devendra Jhajharia bettered his world mark to win his second gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics with a distance of 63.97m.

The Indian Paralympian received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2017. The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) chief and two-time gold-medal winner of the Paralympics said that India will send its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes which will compete in 12 disciplines including archery, athletics, badminton, canoeing, cycling, blind judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, and taekwondo at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

3. Mariyappan Thangavelu - Gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics

Star Indian athlete Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold medal in the men’s high jump F42 event at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. The Tamil Nadu star jumped 1.89 metres. Mariyappan was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award on his return. He received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.

4. Avani Lekhara - Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

The 19-year-old Avani Lekhara won a historic gold medal in her debut Paralympics campaign, shooting a new Paralympic record score of 249.6 in the women's 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1 final in Tokyo. It made Avani Lekhara the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal. Avani Lekhara beat defending Paralympic champion Cuiping Zhang of China and reigning world champion Iryna Shchetnik of Ukraine in the final to win the gold medal.

5. Pramod Bhagat - Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

Pramod Bhagat became the first Paralympic champion in the men's singles badminton SL3 category. Badminton made its Para Games debut in Tokyo. In the final, the Indian shuttler beat Great Britain's Daniel Bethell 21-14, 21-17 to clinch the gold medal. The 2024 Paralympic Games will run from August 28 to September 8 showcasing athletes from around the globe. Unfortunately, Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist para shuttler Pramod Bhagat is set to miss the Paris Paralympics 2024 after being found guilty of breaching the BWF anti-doping regulations. Pramod Bhagat has now appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division.

6. Sumit Antil - Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

India's javelin thrower Sumit Antil thrice broke his own world record to win gold in the men's javelin throw F64 category. The 23-year-old began with a 66.95m throw, beating his previous world record of 62.88m. In his second attempt, Sumit Antil once again made a new world record with a 68.08m throw. Sumit Antil's fifth throw of 68.55m in the final gave him the gold medal.

7. Manish Narwal - Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

Star India para shooter Manish Narwal claimed the men's 50m pistol SH1 shooting gold medal with a Paralympic record-setting score at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. He qualified for the final finishing 7th in qualifying but made a new world record in the medal round shooting 218.2.

8. Krishna Nagar - Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

Star India para shuttler Krishna Nagar ensured he closed India’s campaign at the Tokyo Paralympics on a high after winning the gold medal in men's singles badminton SH6 class. The Rajasthan-born shuttler dominated the event from start to end. The final against Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai was a thriller with the Indian having the last laugh and winning the match 21-17, 16-21, 21-17 to clinch gold.

Paralympics’ India gold medal winners list

Indian Athlete	Medal	Event	Paralympic Games
Murlikant Petkar	Gold	Swimming, Men's 50m freestyle 3	Heidelberg 1972
Devendra Jhajharia	Gold	Men's javelin throw F44/ 46	Athens 2004
Mariyappan Thangavelu	Gold	Men's high jump F42	Rio 2016
Devendra Jhajharia	Gold	Men's javelin throw F46	Rio 2016
Avani Lekhara	Gold	Women's 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1	Tokyo 2020
Sumit Antil	Gold	Men's javelin throw F64	Tokyo 2020
Manish Narwal	Gold	Men's 50m pistol SH1	Tokyo 2020
Pramod Bhagat	Gold	Men's singles badminton SL3	Tokyo 2020
Krishna Nagar	Gold	Men's singles badminton SH6	Tokyo 2020