Paralympics 2024: India’s Historic Medal Tally
India’s para-athletes made history at the Paris Paralympics 2024, winning 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. This remarkable performance exceeded their pre-set target of 25 medals and showcased India’s growing prowess across various sports such as athletics, badminton, shooting, archery, and judo. Indian athletes secured medals every day from Day 2 to Day 10, underscoring the country’s commitment to excellence.
From just 12 medals in the first 11 editions of the Paralympics to an impressive 48 medals in the last two, India’s para-athletes have come a long way. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, India sent a record 54 athletes and returned with 19 medals, including five golds, eight silvers, and six bronzes, setting high expectations for the Paris Games. In Paris, the Indian contingent expanded to 84 athletes, setting an ambitious target of 25 medals.
Highlights of India’s Medal-Winning Journey
India’s first medal came from Avani Lekhara, who successfully defended her title in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, winning gold. Lekhara’s win marked the first time an Indian woman athlete won multiple medals at the Paralympics. On the same day, Mona Agarwal secured a bronze in the same event, while Manish Narwal earned a silver in men’s 10m air pistol SH1, and sprinter Preethi Pal won a bronze in women’s 100m – T35.
Day 5 to Day 7 of the competition was a golden period for India, with 17 medals won in just three days. The surge began with a silver in men’s discus throw – F56 by Yogesh Kathuniya, followed by gold for Nitesh Kumar in men’s singles SL3 badminton. Badminton continued to bring success with four additional medals, including silvers for Thulasimathi Murugesan and Suhas LY and bronzes for Manisha Ramadass and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivam.
The athletics events continued to deliver medals, with Sumit Antil winning gold in the men’s javelin throw – F64 and the archers securing a bronze in the mixed team compound open event. On Day 6, India experienced another surge in medals with five podium finishes in athletics, including a gold-silver finish for Dharambir and Pranav Soorma in the men’s club throw – F51. Archer Harvinder Singh also made history by winning India’s first archery gold at the Paralympics.
India’s Historic Medal Haul
India set a new record by winning its 25th medal with a bronze in men’s -60kg J1 judo by Kapil Parmar. High jumper Praveen Kumar won India’s sixth gold in the men’s T64 final, and Hokato Hotozhe Sema earned a bronze in men’s shot put – F57. Navdeep Singh added a seventh gold with his victory in the men’s javelin throw – F41, and Simran earned bronze in the women’s 200m – T12. With another gold and a bronze on the final day, India concluded its best-ever Paralympics campaign with seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals.
India’s Full List of Medal Winners at Paris Paralympics 2024:
Gold Medalists:
- Avani Lekhara – Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1
- Nitesh Kumar – Men’s Singles SL3 (Badminton)
- Sumit Antil – Javelin Throw F64 (Athletics)
- Harvinder Singh – Men’s Individual Recurve Open (Archery)
- Dharambir – Men’s Club Throw F51 (Athletics)
- Praveen Kumar – Men’s High Jump T64
- Navdeep Singh – Men’s Javelin Throw F41
Silver Medalists:
- Manish Narwal – Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Shooting)
- Nishad Kumar – Men’s High Jump T47 (Athletics)
- Yogesh Kathuniya – Men’s Discus Throw F56 (Athletics)
- Thulasimathi Murugesan – Women’s Singles SU5 (Badminton)
- Suhas Yathiraj – Men’s Singles SL4 (Badminton)
- Sharad Kumar – Men’s High Jump T63 (Athletics)
- Ajeet Singh – Men’s Javelin Throw F46 (Athletics)
- Sachin Sarjerao Khilari – Men’s Shot Put F46 (Athletics)
- Pranav Soorma – Men’s Club Throw F51 (Athletics)
Bronze Medalists:
- Mona Agarwal – Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 (Shooting)
- Preethi Pal – Women’s 100m T35 (Athletics)
- Preethi Pal – Women’s 200m T35 (Athletics)
- Rubina Francis – Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Shooting)
- Manisha Ramadass – Women’s Singles SU5 (Badminton)
- Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal Devi – Mixed Team Compound Open (Archery)
- Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivam – Women’s Singles SH6 (Badminton)
- Mariyappan Thangavelu – Men’s High Jump T63 (Athletics)
- Deepthi Jeevanji – Women’s 400m T20 (Athletics)
- Sundar Singh Gurjar – Men’s Javelin Throw F46 (Athletics)
- Kapil Parmar – Men’s Judo – 60kg J1
- Hokato Hotozhe Sema – Men’s Shot Put F57
- Simran – Women’s 200m T12 (Athletics)
India’s stellar performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024 reflects the hard work, dedication, and resilience of its para-athletes, marking a historic achievement and setting a new benchmark for future games.