As of September 5, 2024, India has secured 24 medals at the Paris Paralympics, making it the country's most successful Paralympic outing to date. India is currently ranked 13th in the world in the overall medal tally, showing remarkable improvement compared to previous years. This achievement surpasses India's performance in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where the country finished with 19 medals.
Medal Breakdown (As of September 5, 2024)
India’s 24 medals consist of:
- 4 Gold
- 8 Silver
- 12 Bronze
Here’s a sport-wise breakdown of the Indian medalists at the 2024 Paralympics:
1. Para-Shooting
- Avani Lekhara: Gold in Women’s 10m Air Rifle SH1
- Manish Narwal: Silver in Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1
- Singhraj Adhana: Bronze in Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1
2. Para-Athletics
- Sumit Antil: Gold in Men’s Javelin Throw F64 (Set a new Paralympic record)
- Devendra Jhajharia: Silver in Men’s Javelin Throw F46
- Mariyappan Thangavelu: Bronze in Men’s High Jump T63
3. Para-Badminton
- Nitesh Kumar: Gold in Men’s Singles SL3
- Suhas Yathiraj: Silver in Men’s Singles SL4
- Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar: Bronze in Men’s Doubles SL3-SL4
- Krishna Nagar: Bronze in Men’s Singles SH6
4. Powerlifting
- Sakina Khatun: Bronze in Women’s 50kg category
- Sudhir: Silver in Men’s 80kg category
5. Table Tennis
- Bhavina Patel: Silver in Women’s Singles Class 4
- Sonalben Patel: Bronze in Women’s Singles Class 3
6. Swimming
- Suyash Jadhav: Bronze in Men’s 50m Butterfly S7
- Niranjan Mukundan: Bronze in Men’s 200m Freestyle S7
Comparison with Previous Paralympics
India has steadily improved its rankings in the Paralympics over the last few editions:
- Tokyo 2020: 19 medals, ranked 24th
- Rio 2016: 4 medals, ranked 43rd
- London 2012: 1 medal, ranked 66th
- Beijing 2008: 1 medal, ranked 62nd
The rise from 24th in Tokyo to 13th in Paris reflects India’s growing strength in para-sports, backed by enhanced infrastructure and athlete development programs.
Games to Look Forward To
India still has several opportunities to increase its medal tally as the 2024 Paralympics continue:
1. Para-Badminton: Finals for several categories are yet to take place, with top contenders like Pramod Bhagat and Suhas Yathiraj in the running for medals in both singles and doubles events.
2. Para-Athletics: Events in shot put, long jump, and javelin are scheduled for the coming days. Indian athletes, particularly in the javelin and long jump categories, are strong contenders for medals.
3. Powerlifting: With upcoming events, Indian athletes such as Sudhir have a strong chance of adding to the medal tally in the higher weight categories.
4. Archery: India’s para-archers, including Harvinder Singh, are expected to put in strong performances in the recurve and compound events.
Conclusion: India's Rising Paralympic Power
The Paris Paralympics have proven to be a historic event for India. The country's consistent rise in world rankings from 43rd in Rio to 13th in Paris highlights the importance of dedicated para-sport programs and the increasing visibility of differently-abled athletes. India’s inspiring performances are setting the stage for a new era in Indian sports, with hopes of even better results in future global competitions.
Stay tuned as India continues its journey in the Paris 2024 Paralympics with the possibility of securing even more medals in the days ahead.