India’s Paralympic team had their best-ever performance at the Paris 2024 Games, winning an impressive 29 medals—seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. This was a historic moment for India, finishing 18th on the overall medal table, beating countries like Switzerland, South Korea, Belgium, and Argentina, and proving that India is becoming a strong competitor in para-sports.
The campaign ended on Sunday when Pooja Ojha. Competing in the women’s kayak 200m, missed the chance to qualify for the final. Despite this disappointment, India celebrated their overall success in many sports.
India’s last medal came from Navdeep Singh
Who won gold in the men’s javelin throw F41 event on Saturday. Initially, Navdeep had won silver with a throw of 47.32m, behind China’s Sun Pengxiang.However, officials disqualified Iran’s Beit Sadegh for breaking the rules, upgrading Navdeep’s medal to gold and awarding Pengxiang the silver.
Simran Sharma, along with her guide Abhay Singh, added another medal with a bronze in the women’s 200m (T12) event. The 24-year-old sprinter, who is visually impaired, ran her best time of 24.75 seconds. Bouncing back after missing the podium in the 100m sprint earlier in the Games.
India’s athletes in track and field were especially successful, winning 17 medals, including four golds. Navdeep’s gold was redemption for missing a podium finish at the Tokyo Paralympics. While Preethi Pal made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in athletics, securing two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m (T35) sprints.
Shooter Avani Lekhara defended her Tokyo 2020 title in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, making her a two-time Paralympic gold medallist. In para-badminton, Thulasimathi Murugesan became the first Indian woman to win a medal in the sport, taking silver in women’s singles SU5. Indian women’s para-badminton players won three more medals, marking their first-ever podium finishes at the Paralympics.
