India’s Historic Victory at Paris 2024 Paralympics: Record 29 Medals!

India's Paralympic team created history at the Paris 2024 Games, winning a record-breaking 29 medals. This impressive haul includes seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals. The achievement surpassed the country’s previous best performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where India won 19 medals. With this victory, India has crossed the 50-medal milestone in its Paralympic history, cementing its status as a rising force in international para-sports.

Breaking Records in Para-Sports

India's athletes delivered a phenomenal performance across five sports, with track and field events contributing significantly, securing 17 out of the 29 medals. This outstanding performance placed India in the top 20 of the overall medal standings, a notable accomplishment in a competition dominated by powerhouse countries like China.

India's Medal Tally at Paris 2024

Here is a summary of India's medal winners across different sports:

• Archery: Harvinder Singh won India’s first-ever gold in Paralympic archery, while Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi secured a bronze in the mixed-team event.
• Athletics: 17 medals, including gold by Sumit Antil (javelin throw F64) and Praveen Kumar (high jump T64).
• Shooting: Avani Lekhara secured gold in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.
• Badminton: Nitesh Kumar won gold in men’s singles SL3.
• Judo: Kapil Parmar won a bronze in men’s -60kg J1 category.

Sheetal Devi's Historic Feat

A standout moment was Sheetal Devi, an armless archer, creating a world record in the ranking round. At just 17, she became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist, winning a bronze in the mixed-team archery event with Rakesh Kumar and a silver medal individually.

Expanding India's Presence in New Disciplines

India’s 84 para-athletes competed in 12 disciplines, three more than at Tokyo 2020. India debuted in three new sports—para-cycling, para-rowing, and blind judo—marking a significant step toward expanding its presence in global para-sports.

India's Position in the Global Paralympic Rankings

China again dominated the Paris Paralympics, topping the medals table with a staggering 220 medals, including 94 golds. Great Britain followed with 49 golds, while the U.S. secured 36 titles. Also read: PM  Meet Paralympians: Prime Minister Modi will meet India's Paralympic team, after historic India’s 18th position overall highlights the country’s growing prominence in the Paralympic scene. India’s remarkable achievements at Paris 2024 reflect a steady rise in international para-sports, setting the stage for even greater accomplishments in the future.