India's Para-Athletes Shine Bright with Record Medal Haul

India's para-athletes showcased extraordinary determination at the Paralympics, securing a record 29 medals, including seven golds. This marks a significant improvement from their 2016 performance. Key highlights include unprecedented wins in track, judo, archery, club throw, and javelin, cementing India's reputation in international para-sports.

Differently-abled but exceptionally resolute, India's para-athletes have a lot to celebrate as they concluded their Paralympics campaign with a record-smashing haul of 29 medals. Most of the established names met expectations while new talents emerged on the big stage.

Seven out of these 29 medals are gold, a first for India in Paralympics history. The country's meteoric rise began in the 2016 edition, where it won just four medals. This time, Tokyo's yield of 19 was substantially surpassed.

Several performances set new records and personal bests, showcasing significant progress in self-belief among the athletes. The 29 medals across five sports, including 17 in track and field events, placed India in the top 20, with China dominating with over 200 medals.

While India has a long way to go at the Olympic level, the nation has firmly established itself in para-sports competitions.

Unexpected victories in track events and judo were highlights. Preethi Pal's bronze in the women's 100m and 200m T35, and Kapil Parmar's bronze in men's Judo 60kg J1, were historic firsts.

India's archers and club throwers also contributed significantly. Harvinder Singh and Dharambir secured gold in archery and club throw, respectively. Armless archer Sheetal Devi, with her mixed team bronze, became a crowd favorite for her awe-inspiring leg-based technique.

Sumit Antil and Avani Lekhara, who had high expectations, defended their titles in javelin and air rifle SH1, respectively. Kumar Nitesh also clinched gold in badminton, adding to the tally.

Future aspirations include top-10 finishes, particularly if India develops a strong pool of para swimmers. Only one swimmer represented India in Paris, while China won 54 medals in swimming, including 20 golds.

(With inputs from agencies.)