India achieved a historic milestone at the Paris Paralympics, surpassing its previous best medal tally by securing a total of 20 medals (3 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze). This impressive feat was marked by outstanding performances in track and field events, leading to a late surge of medals on Day 6 of the Games.
India ended the day ranked 17th overall, thanks to the five medals earned by its athletes at the Stade de France, including two silver and three bronze medals. This surpassed the nation’s previous best of 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympics, where India had won five gold, eight silver, and six bronze medals.
In the javelin throw (F46 category), Ajeet Singh and world record holder Sundar Singh Gurjar secured silver and bronze with throws of 65.62m and 64.96m, respectively. The F46 category is designated for athletes with moderate movement impairments in one or both arms or limb absence.
In the men’s high jump T63 final, Rio Paralympics gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu became the first Indian to win three Paralympic medals. He clinched bronze with a jump of 1.85m, while his compatriot Sharad Kumar secured silver with a jump of 1.88m. The T63 category is for high jumpers with moderate movement impairments in one leg or limb absence above the knee.
Earlier, sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji made a remarkable Paralympic debut, winning bronze in the women’s 400m T20 event. She clocked 55.82 seconds, finishing behind Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar and Turkey’s world record holder Aysel Onder. Deepthi, who hails from a humble background in Telangana, was diagnosed with intellectual impairment and began her athletic journey after being spotted at a school-level meet.
Avani Lekhara’s Campaign Ends
Indian shooting star Avani Lekhara, who had earlier won gold in the 10m air rifle, missed out on a second medal at the Games, finishing fifth in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition. Lekhara, who became the first Indian woman to win consecutive golds at the Paralympics, shot a total of 420.6 across the three stages. The SH1 class is for athletes with lower-limb impairments who can hold and shoot from a standing or seated position.
Jadhav Ends 5th in Shot Put
Bhagyashri Jadhav, competing in her second Paralympics, finished fifth in the women’s shot put (F34 category) with a throw of 7.28m. China’s Lijuan Zou won gold with a throw of 9.14m, while Poland’s Lucyna Kornobys claimed silver with an 8.33m effort. Jadhav’s journey from a life-altering accident in 2006 to becoming a para-athlete is an inspiring story of resilience.
Archer Pooja’s Campaign Ends in Quarters
In archery, World Para Championship silver medallist Pooja Jatyan reached the quarterfinals in the recurve women’s open competition but was defeated by China’s Wu Chunyan. Pooja led 4-0 at one point but succumbed to pressure, allowing Chunyan to stage a comeback and win the match.
India’s athletes continue to inspire and uplift the nation’s spirits at the Paralympics, setting new records and pushing the boundaries of excellence.
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