The Paris Paralympic Games 2024 wrapped up on Sunday, marking a historic moment for India as the country concluded its campaign with a record-breaking 29 medals. The tally includes seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronzes, positioning India as one of the top-performing nations at the Games. This achievement places India at the 18th spot in the overall medal standings, surpassing traditional powerhouses like Switzerland, Belgium, South Korea, and Argentina.
The final day of the Games saw Pooja Ojha competing in the women’s kayak 200m event, where she did not advance to the finals. Nevertheless, India’s performance throughout the Games has been noteworthy, showcasing significant progress compared to previous Paralympics.
India’s 29th and last medal of the Games was clinched by Navdeep Singh in the men’s javelin throw F41 classification. Originally earning a silver with a throw of 47.32m, Navdeep was upgraded to gold following the disqualification of Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah for unsporting conduct. Sayah had originally set a Paralympic record with a throw of 47.64m but was disqualified for displaying an objectionable flag, in violation of the International Paralympic Committee’s rules against political gestures.
Navdeep’s incredible comeback from his fourth-place performance at the Tokyo Games to his gold medal victory in Paris is a testament to his perseverance and dedication. Navdeep, an investigator in the Income Tax Department, won bronze at the para-world championships earlier this year and has five medals at the national level since 2017.
In addition, Simran, who participated with her mentor Abhay Singh, left a lasting impression when she won the bronze in the women’s 200-meter (T12) competition. Simran, who has vision problems from birth, set a personal best of 24.75 seconds. After placing fourth in the 100-meter event, this performance served as her atonement. The 24-year-old Delhi native, who is currently the world 200-meter champion, has already won three gold medals at the first-ever Khelo India Para Games in December of last year, and two silver medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year.
The track-and-field events contributed significantly to India’s medal tally, with 17 medals, including four golds. Despite the impressive performance, India trailed behind the top-ranked China, which led the medal table with 208 medals, including 90 golds.
As the curtains fell on the Paris Paralympics, India has demonstrated its growing strength in the Paralympic arena and is poised to build on this success for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
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