Paralympic Games 2024: Indian Team Makes a Strong Start

Paralympic Games 2024: At the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games 2024, Indian shot putter Bhagyashri Jadhav and javelin thrower Sumit Antil led the Indian contingent. The grand ceremony featured a four-hour athletes' procession that began on the Champs-Elysees avenue and concluded at Place de la Concorde. French President Emmanuel Macron formally inaugurated the Games.

Indian Contingent

This year, India has sent its largest-ever Paralympic team, comprising 179 members, including 84 athletes competing in 12 different sports. Sumit Antil, who won gold in javelin at the Tokyo Paralympics, and Bhagyashri Jadhav, who secured a silver in shot put at the Asian Para Games in China, were honored as the flag-bearers.

India aims to win at least 25 medals, with a target of securing multiple golds. In the previous Games, India won 19 medals, including five gold.

Notable Athletes

Among the standout athletes is rifle shooter Avani Lekhara, who made history in Tokyo as the first female Paralympian to win gold in the 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event. Other strong contenders include para-archer Sheetal Devi, who uses her legs to shoot as she was born without arms, and landmine survivors Hokato Sema (shot putter) and Narayana Konganapalle (rower).

Badminton Match Results

In badminton, the Indian mixed doubles team of Nitesh Kumar and Thulasimathi Murugesan made an impressive start. They defeated the defending champions Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli in their group stage match (SL3-SU5). The match ended in just 31 minutes, with Nitesh and Thulasimathi winning 21-14, 21-17.

Nitesh, from Karnal in Haryana, and Thulasimathi, a veterinary science student from Tamil Nadu, dominated the game from the beginning. Suhas and Palak struggled to counter their opponents’ strong plays and fell behind quickly. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t catch up, losing the second game just 14 minutes after the first.

Also read:India’s Paris 2024 Paralympics Complete Schedule and Highlights

India’s Paralympic athletes have made a strong impression so far, and the nation is hopeful for more success as the Games progress.