India records their highest-ever medal tally in a single Paralympic, clinching 20 medals, more than the Tokyo Paralympics.

India sets a new benchmark in Paralympic history, securing a record 20 medals and surpassing their Tokyo Paralympics achievement.

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Omkar Devadkar

Last Updated: 2024-09-04 08:04:07

Summary: India’s athletes at the Paris Paralympics gave an outstanding performance with a medal haul of 20.

India's track and field athletes in Paris on Tuesday delivered an incredible performance that allowed the country to surpass the previous edition’s medal total and secure its greatest-ever Paralympic haul.

India smashed the previous record of 19 medals established in the Tokyo Paralympic Games three years earlier, with 20 medals total—three golds, seven silvers, and ten bronzes.

After a few close calls at the beginning of the competition, India ended the day on a high note thanks to medals won late into Tuesday by Deepthi Jeevanji, Sharad Kumar, Mariyappan Thangavelu, Ajeet Singh, and Sundar Gurjar.

In the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 Final and Women's Shot Put - F34 Final, respectively, Bhagyashri Mahavrao and Avani Lekhara came in fifth.

Ajeet Singh and Sundar Gurjar won medals for India in the men's javelin F46 category at the Paris Paralympics with fantastic performances. The pair won silver and bronze with their season-best throws, capping an incredible 2-3 result for the nation.

After lagging behind Sundar Gurjar for the majority of the competition, Ajeet Singh took the lead with his fifth throw, going 65.62 meters to win the silver medal.

Sundar Gurjar won the bronze after coming in second with a best throw of 64.96 meters. Guillermo Varona Gonzalez of Cuba won the competition and set a new area record with a throw of 66.14 meters.

Gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu and high jumper Sharad Kumar both did well, placing second and third in the T63 finals with leaps of 1.88 and 1.85 meters, respectively.

High jumpers with either no limbs above the knee or one leg with just minor restrictions on movement fall into the T63 category.

The third contender from India, Shailesh Kumar, cleared the height on his second try, but he failed to win a medal despite recording a personal best of 1.85 meters.

With three gold, seven silver, and ten bronze medals, India is now ranked 17th in the medal standings.