India’s Remarkable Journey at 2024 Paralympics with 29 Medals
2024 पैरालंपिक्स में भारत की अद्भुत यात्रा, 29 पदकों के साथ
India’s participation in Paralympic Games is a testament to the inclusivity and unbiasedness of our nation towards it’s people and their participation in sports. India’s journey at Paris Paralympics in Year 2024 has been euphoric where Indian contingent has won 29 medals, the best ever through the decades.
India’s journey in the Paralympic Games has seen a significant growth. The Paralympics, which first began in 1960, have seen India’s gradual rise in para-sports, with athletes overcoming many challenges to bring glory to the nation.
Before delving into the details of year 2024, let’s look at India’s journey from when it first started participating in Paralympics.
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1. 1968 Tel Aviv Paralympics
Host: Tel Aviv, Israel
India made its first appearance at the Paralympics in 1968 in Tel Aviv, Israel. A contingent of 10 athletes, 10 men and two women represented India. Even though India did not win any medals that year, it did provide a significant exposure to nation’s para-athletes, marking the beginning of India’s journey on the global Paralympic stage.
2. 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics
Host: Heidelberg, Germany
India won it’s first ever Gold medal at the 1972 Summer Paralympics. Murlikant Petkar competed in the 50m freestyle swimming competition. He won gold with a world record time of 37.33 seconds. Petkar, a former soldier in the Indian Army, was injured during the 1965 Indo-Pak war and later took up swimming as part of his rehabilitation. His victory brought attention to athletes with disabilities in India and their potential to excel in international competitions.
3. 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York Paralympics
Host: Stoke Mandeville (UK) and New York (USA)
Medal Tally:
Medals Won: 4
Silver: 2
Bronze: 2
Joginder Singh Bedi - SILVER - Athletics, men's shot put L6.
Joginder Singh Bedi - BRONZE - Athletics, men's javelin L6.
Joginder Singh Bedi - BRONZE - Athletics, men's discus throw L6.
Bhimrao Kesarkar - SILVER - Athletics, men's javelin L6.
4. 2004 Athens Paralympics
Host: Athens, Greece
Medal Tally:
Medals Won: 2
Gold: 1
Bronze: 1
Devendra Jhajharia won a gold medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw (F44/46 category), marking India’s second-ever Paralympic gold. Rajinder Singh Rahelu won a bronze medal in Men’s Powerlifting 56 kg.
5. 2012 London Paralympics
Host: London, United Kingdom
Medal Tally:
Medals Won: 1
Silver: 1
Girisha Nagaraje Gowda clinched a silver medal in the Men’s High Jump (F42).
6. 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics
Host: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Medal Tally:
Medals Won: 4
Gold: 2
Silver: 1
Bronze: 1
Devendra Jhajharia won his second gold medal in the Javelin Throw (F46).
Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold in the Men's High Jump (T42).
Deepa Malik became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic medal, securing silver in the Women’s Shot Put (F53).
Varun Singh Bhati won bronze in the Men’s High Jump (T42).
7. 2020 Tokyo Paralympics
Host: Tokyo, Japan (held in 2021 due to the pandemic)
Medal Tally:
Medals Won: 19 (India's best-ever performance)
Gold: 5
Silver: 8
Bronze: 6
2020 Tokyo Paralympics saw India’s remarkable and best ever performance, where the Indian contingent clinched 19 medals. This year saw a transformational journey Indian sports has seen over the years.
Gold: Sumit Antil (Men’s Javelin Throw - F64), Avani Lekhara (Women’s 10m Air Rifle - SH1), Pramod Bhagat (Badminton Men’s Singles SL3), Manish Narwal (Men’s 50m Pistol SH1), and Krishna Nagar (Badminton Men’s Singles SH6).
Silver: Notable silver medallists included Bhavina Patel (Table Tennis Women’s Singles Class 4), Nishad Kumar (Men’s High Jump T47), and Yogesh Kathuniya (Men’s Discus Throw F56).
Bronze: Harvinder Singh secured India's first-ever archery medal, winning bronze in Men’s Individual Recurve (W2/ST), along with other notable performances from Sharad Kumar (Men’s High Jump T63) and Sundar Singh Gurjar (Men’s Javelin Throw F46).
India’s journey in the Paralympics has been marked by perseverance and gradual success. From winning its first medal in 1972 to the outstanding performance at Tokyo 2020 and finally 29 medals in the Paris Paralympics 2024, Indian para-athletes have consistently overcome physical and systemic challenges to rise on the global stage.
India’s growing support for para-athletes, increased funding, and improved training facilities have contributed significantly to these accomplishments. Government initiatives such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and growing recognition of para-athletes' achievements have helped propel the country to new heights in the Paralympics. Indian para - athletes have redefined what it means to represent the nation on the global stage. From modest beginnings to becoming a competitive force, India’s para-athletes continue to inspire, achieving extraordinary success.
