India’s Rising Hopes and Preparations
The Paris Paralympics 2024, hosted in the French capital, is set to be a grand stage for the world’s finest disabled athletes. India, after its remarkable performance at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 where it won a record 19 medals (5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze), is gearing up for an even better performance in Paris.
India’s flag bearers for the opening ceremony will be javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shot putter Bhagyashri Jadhav. Sumit clinched a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F64 category at the Tokyo Paralympics, while Bhagyashri secured a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games.
Interestingly, Indian para-athletes competing on August 29 will not participate in the opening ceremony. This includes the entire 10-member shooting team. Devendra Jhajharia, President of the Paralympic Committee of India, explained that participating in the opening ceremony could hinder their performance in the subsequent day’s competitions.
India’s Achievements in Paralympics
India’s Paralympic journey began in 1968, and its first medal was won in 1972. Murlikant Petkar achieved this feat by winning gold in the 50-meter freestyle 3 event at the Heidelberg Paralympics, setting a world record of 37.33 seconds.
To date, India has won a total of 31 medals at the Paralympics, including 9 gold, 12 silver, and 10 bronze medals. These achievements have placed India at 57th in the all-time medal tally.
How to Watch Paris Paralympics in India
You can watch the Paris Paralympics 2024 live on Jio Cinema app and website. Sports 18 will also broadcast the entire event live in India. The opening ceremony will be aired live on the Sports 18 network at 11:30 PM IST on August 28. You can also watch it online on the Jio Cinema app and website.
Indian Athletes Competing in the Paris Paralympics 2024
The prominent Indian athletes participating in the Paris Paralympics include:
Indian Athletes at Paris Paralympics 2024
- Sumit Antil – Gold medalist in the javelin throw (F64 category), who won a gold medal for India at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
- Bhagyashree Jadhav – Silver medalist in shot put, who secured a medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games.
- Devendra Jhajharia – An experienced athlete in javelin throw, who has represented India in multiple Paralympics.
- Kapil Parmar – Competing in blind judo, marking India’s first representation in this sport.
- Arshad Shaikh – Participating in para cycling, specifically in the men’s C2 events.
- Jyoti Gaderiya – Competing in the women’s C2 para cycling events.
- Yash Kumar – Competing in para canoeing.
- Manisha Ramdas – Participating in para badminton.
India’s Participation
India is sending its largest-ever contingent of 84 athletes to the Paris Paralympics, which is the biggest representation to date. This contingent includes 32 female athletes and will compete in 12 sports, with new events such as para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo added to India’s Paralympic roster.
Read about the Paris Paralympics 2024 Opening Ceremony and Schedule Details.
With India’s rising star in para-sports and the nation’s unwavering support, the Paris Paralympics 2024 promises to be a memorable event.
The Paris Paralympics will be held from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
The opening ceremony can be live-streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website, and it will also be broadcast on the Sports 18 Network.
The flag bearers for India will be Sumit Antil, a gold medalist in javelin throw, and Bhagyashree Yadav, a silver medalist in shot put.
India will compete in 12 sports at the Paris Paralympics, marking its largest contingent with 84 athletes.