After a mixed performance at the Paris Olympics, India is now hoping to bring glory and more medals from its para athletes in Paris 2024 Paralympics. India has sent its largest delegation to the Paris 2024 Paralympics with 84 athletes Competing from August 28 to September 8. this is a Significant increase from the 54 athletes who participated in Tokyo 2020, this year’s team includes 32 women as Competing in 12 Sports Such para Cycling, para rowing and blind Judo.
India’s best Paralympic performance was at Tokyo 2020, where the team won 19 medals, including five golds. the bar is now set higher. India has so far won 25 medals in the Paris 2024 Paralympics , which include 5 gold, 9 silver and 11 bronze.
Here are some of the star medal contenders
Avani lekhara
Avani Lekhara is a 22-year-old rifle shooter who created history by successfully defending her Women’s 10 m Air Rifle Shooting Standing SH 1 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Avani broke her own record made during Tokyo Games. Avani is the first Indian woman to win two gold medals in the Games history. she also made history at 2020 Paralympics winning gold in 10 meter air rifle and bronze in 50 meter rifle 3 positions. she became the first Indian women to win Paralympics gold and multiple medals in a single game.
Avani was just 10 when a Car accident Crushed her Spinal cord and along with it the dreams of her becoming a dancer. After months of physio and therapist when she returned to school her things were not the Same. His father urged him to stay active by taking rifle shooting training, which started as a summer camp and soon turned into something more. She aimed to defy every limitation transforming herself into a champion becoming the first Indian women to win a gold in parachuting at the Paralympics.
Sumit Antil
Sumit Antil is a 26 year old para Javelin thrower representing India at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist in men’s javelin F 64 is a top contender for Paris 2024. he broke the world record in 2019. Secured silver in Dubai and Surpassed his own record at 2020 Tokyo Paralympics with a 68.5 Meter throw and now he set a new Paralympic record both times with his throws of 68.55 m and 70.59 m respectively at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
In 2015, Sumit met with an accident and acquired a disability in his teenage years. he wanted to pursue a career in wrestling and wanted to join the Indian army but after accident unwilling to back down, Sumit started training as a para athlete just 2 years later and went on to win Gold at 2020 Summer Paralympics as well as the 2023 world para Athletics world championship. In 2021, Sumit received the prestigious Khel Ratna Award and the highly coveted Padma Shri in 2022. Sumit currently holds the world record for men’s para javelin throw and he was India’s flag bearer at Paris Paralympics 2024.
Nishad Kumar
Nishad Kumar 24 year old high jumper Silver medalist at the Tokyo Paralympics with Asian record of 2.06 meter won gold at the 2021 world para athletics grand Prix and multiple silver medals in the recent world championship.
Nishad Kumar Secured silver for India in men’s high jump T 47. he Secured his silver after his best attempt of 2.04 meter, T 47 is meant for Competitors with below elbow or wrist amputation or impairment. he lost out on Gold to USA’s Roderick Townsend. this is Nishad ‘s 2nd consecutive silver medal at Paralympics.
Nishad Kumar belongs from a farmer’s family. When he was six years old, his right hand was accidentally severed by a mower on his family’s farm. Inspired by his mother, Nishad’s passion for sports grew stronger and he started his journey in sports with wrestling, but soon he found his true identity in athletics.He took up the sport of para-athletics in 2009. Nishad Kumar at 24 is the youngest Indian to win back to back Paralympics medals.
Yogesh Kathuniya
India’s Yogesh Kathuniya retained his silver medal in men’s discus throw F 56 at the Paralympics in Paris on Monday. Yogesh was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome at the age of 9. Diagnosed with Guillain Barre syndrome at an early age, his family was not able to afford monthly physiotherapy. His mother soon learned the necessary treatments and took over as his physiotherapist, due to which Yogesh was able to walk with some difficulty after a few years.
In 2016 at the age of 19, Yogesh was introduced to Para sports at Kirori Mal College and started by competing in javelin throw, discus throw and shot put. The 2018 Berlin Para Athletics Grand Prix was his first international event, where he won gold in all 3 events and set a world record in the men’s discus F 36 event. He then finished fourth at the Asian Para Games, earning him a spot at the 2019 Para World Championships in Dubai. After this Yogesh decided to leave javelin throw and shot put and focus only on discus throw.
Secured his place for Tokyo Paralympics by winning bronze medal in Dubai. Where Yogesh won a silver medal in the men’s F 56 discus throw event, for which he received the Arjuna Award in India. Yogesh soon decided to start his own academy to help other para athletes by providing them the necessary financial support along with coaching. Yogesh won silver medals at the Para Asian Games and World Para Athletics Championships 2023 and hopes to become the first athlete to cross the 50 m hurdles in his event and bring home a gold medal at the Paris Paralympic Games.
Preethi Pal
India’s Preeti Pal created history by becoming the first Indian female track and field athlete. To clinch two medals at the Paralympics after securing a bronze medal in the 200 m T 35 category with a personal best of 30.01 seconds in Paris on Sunday.The feat marks her as the second Indian woman to win 2 medals at the same Paralympics after shooter Avani Lekhara’s gold and bronze in Tokyo.
On Friday, Preeti won India’s first athletics medal in a Paralympic track event, winning a bronze medal in the women’s T 35 100 m event with a personal best timing of 14.21 seconds. Preeti’s bronze medal in the 200 m T 35 became India’s second para-athletics medal at the Paris Paralympics. Born with coordination disorders, her lower body remained in plaster for six days after birth, causing weak legs and irregular leg posture. Traditional treatments and wearing calipers from the ages of five to thirteen were part of his early struggles.
Her perspective changed at the age of 17, inspired by the Paralympic Games on social media and a life-changing meeting with Paralympic athlete Fatima Khatoon introduced her to para-athletics . With Khatoon’s support, Preeti started competing in state and national championships from 2018, qualifying for the Asian Para Games in China last year, where she finished fourth in the 100 m and 200 m sprint . To work on her running technique , Preeti moved to Delhi to prepare under the guidance of her guru Gajendra Singh . The training culminated in winning bronze medals in the 100 m and 200 m at the World Para Athletics Championships.
Nitesh Kumar
Nitesh Kumar won gold for India in the para badminton men’s singles SL 3 event of the Paris 2024 Paralympics held at the La Chapelle Arena in Paris on Monday. Kumar’s gold is India’s ninth medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Shuttler Nitesh Kumar advanced into SL 3 men’s singles finals to secure India’s third medal on the Day. Nitesh Kumar defeated Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara 21-16, 21-12 in the. This will be Nitesh Kumar’s maiden medal at Paralympics. Nitesh was successful in registering a thrilling victory over Daniel Bethel of Great Britain by 21-14, 18-21, 23-21. His win gave India its second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Nitesh lost his left leg in a train accident in Visakhapatnam in 2009, which left him completely bedridden for several months. However, he devoted his time to preparing for the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance exam and also took a year off. He joined IIT Mandi in 2013 and during his time at the institute, he developed interest in badminton. His career in para- badminton began in 2016 after participating in the Para National Championships as part of the Haryana team.
He brought home his most memorable global championship at the Irish Para-Badminton Worldwide in 2017. he has also won several titles including victories at the Para Badminton World Circuit and the Asian Para Games.
Sheetal Devi
Sheetal Devi is a 17 year old para Archer born with underdeveloped limbs known as Phocomelia. she is the first international female para Archer without upper limbs. Sheetal Devi won bronze in Mixed team compound open event at Paris 2024 paralympics. at the 2020 asian para games she won two golds and one silver. In 2023, she received the Arjuna award and the best youth athlete award. Sheetal Devi became the youngest person to compete in women’s para archery at Paris 2024 Paralympics.
her inspiring Journey began when she discovered archery . Drawing inspiration from american para athlete Mat Stutzman’s technique . With dedication and innovation, his trainer adjusted his bow allowing her to release arrows using her chin and mouth . Sheetal’s hard work paid off as she went on to win Silver and Gold Medals in National and Inter- national para archery events.
In 2019, she attended a youth event in Kishtwar where she was noticed by the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles unit and the Indian army recognized sheetal’s Determination and provided vital support on her journey.
Government and corporate support is already with our para athlete. now our para athletes needs your support. catch the Paris 2024 Paralympics on TV and look for updates on www.consumerviews.in and do support them on social media. As consumerviews we believe, only you have the power to rewrite your life so go ahead and change the narrative.
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