The Indian para-athletes have just written the ultimate sports thriller in the Paris Paralympics 2024. After more than 10 days of extreme fighting, they have collected 29 medals, including seven golds, nine silvers and 13 bronzes-more than ever before. Consequently, this is considered the biggest Paralympic success of India. This campaign had all those heart-pounding moments that culminated in unforgettable victories.
Gold Fever: Avani and Navdeep Set the Stage
Avani Lekhara led the way with gold in the women’s 10m Air Rifle SH1. By the time Navdeep launched his javelin to win in the men’s F41, India were into an epic finale. Not stopping there, though, India also hit some firsts. The first Paralympic archery medal was a chord struck just perfect by Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, while Kapil Parmar turned the script on its head in judo, bagging our first-ever medal in the sport. If that was not enough, Harvinder Singh ensured the golden arrow in para-archery shone bright for India.
Close but Oh-So-Sweet: Top 20 Finish
India finished 18th in the overall medals tally, missing out on the chance of breaking into the top 15 by a whisker-just one gold! And if this is not proof enough that India’s para-athletes are a force to be taken seriously, we don’t know what is.
High Jumps And Big Records
Praveen Kumar wins gold in a jaw-dropping high jump T64 final, clearing seven heights like a big deal and takes home gold. Sumit Antil wasn’t happy stopping at his world record in Tokyo; he broke it all over again at Paris Paralympics 2024 to go to a gob-smacking 70.59m in the men’s F64 javelin.
Girl Power All the Way!
India’s women para-athletes started a storm and India welcomed 10 women with 11 glittering medals. Preethi Pal, in her first outing, got two bronze medals in the sprints of the T35 category and left people asking for an encore.
Bollywood Ending for India
If the Paris Paralympics 2024 were a Bollywood movie, this would be the blockbuster ending! With golds, first-time wins and a plethora of records-smashing, Paris 2024 is a milestone that will be etched in history as India’s greatest Paralympic success.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye