Paris: India achieved its best-ever medal haul in the Paralympics, exceeding the last edition’s number of podium finishes, thanks to a superlative performance by the country’s track and field athletes in Paris on Tuesday.
Sharad Kumar’s silver and Mariyappan Thangavelu’s bronze in the men’s high jump T63 event increased India’s total to 20 medals, eclipsing the former record of 19 set in Tokyo three years prior.
To date, India has secured three gold, seven silver, and ten bronze medals in the French capital. The country concluded the Tokyo Games with five gold, eight silver, and six bronze medals.
Avani Lekhara and Sumit Antil successfully defended their gold medals in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 and men’s javelin throw F64 events, respectively, while Nitesh Kumar clinched gold in the men’s singles SL3 category in para-badminton.
In addition to Sharad, silver medals were won by Ajeet Singh in men’s javelin throw F64, Yogesh Kathuniya in men’s discus throw F56, Thulasimathi Murugesan in women’s singles SU5 para-badminton, Manish Narwal in men’s 10m air pistol SH1, Nishad Kumar in men’s high jump T47, and Suhas Yathiraj in men’s singles SL4 para badminton.
Besides Mariyappan, bronze medals have been claimed by Preethi Pal in women’s 100m T35 and 200m T35, Mona Agarwal in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, Rubina Francis in women’s 10m air pistol SH1, Sundar Singh Gurjar in men’s javelin throw F46, Deepthi Jeevanji in women’s 400m T20, Manisha Ramadass in women’s singles SU5 para-badminton, Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan in women’s singles SH6 para-badminton, and the archery duo of Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar in the mixed team compound open.
