India is set to make a significant impact at the Paris 2024 Paralympics with its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes. Scheduled to take place from August 28 to September 8, the Paris Games will see India competing in 12 sports, including three new disciplines: para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo. This marks an expansion from the 54 athletes sent to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where India achieved its best-ever performance, winning 19 medals.
The Paris 2024 squad features a diverse range of athletes across multiple events. Notably, the team includes 32 women, a significant increase from the 14 women who competed in Tokyo. Among the standout athletes returning from Tokyo is Avani Lekhara, who won gold in the women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event and set a world record. Lekhara will compete again in Paris, bringing her exceptional skill and experience to the games.
Another prominent name is Sumit Antil, the gold medalist in men’s F64 javelin throw from Tokyo 2020. Antil, a two-time world champion, continues to hold the world record with a remarkable throw of 73.29 meters achieved at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. He is expected to be a major contender in his event.
Table tennis player Bhavina Patel, who secured India’s first Paralympic medal in the sport, will participate in both the women’s singles and doubles events at Paris 2024. Alongside her, Sonalben Patel will compete in the women’s doubles, showcasing a strong partnership in the sport.
Harvinder Singh, who made history as the first Indian to win an archery medal at the Paralympics, will compete in both the men’s individual recurve open and mixed team recurve open events. His previous success has set high expectations for his performance in Paris.
India’s participation in new sports like para cycling will feature Arshad Shaik in the men’s C2 events and Jyoti Gaderiya in the women’s C2 events. Additionally, Kapil Parmar and Kokila will represent India in blind judo, competing in their respective weight categories.
The comprehensive list of qualified athletes highlights the depth and breadth of talent within the Indian Paralympic community. With a record number of participants and a broad spectrum of sports, India aims to build on its previous success and achieve new milestones at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
