The Paralympic Paris 2024 Games took place from 28 August to 8 September, featuring around 4,400 athletes from around the world. They competed in 22 sports across various iconic venues in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, the Chateau de Versailles, and the Grand Palais.

The Paris Paralympics 2024 proved to be a landmark for India, with the nation concluding its campaign with a record-breaking 29 medals. This impressive tally includes seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, setting a new benchmark for Indian Paralympic performances. The nation’s triumph at Paris not only eclipsed its previous best of 19 medals at Tokyo 2020 but also marked a monumental leap from the 12 medals won from India’s Paralympic debut in 1968 through to 2016, with just four of those medals coming from Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The 2024 Paralympics have been a remarkable showcase of resilience, determination, and the indomitable spirit of athletes who have overcome physical challenges to compete at the highest level. This edition has seen the breaking of numerous records, highlighting the extraordinary dedication of these competitors.

India’s Performance in Paralympics 2024

India’s overall haul now stands at 60 medals, highlighting a transformative era in its Paralympic history.

India’s Rise in Paralympic Performance

The Paris Paralympics witnessed India achieving several milestones. The country had never breached the double-digit barrier in the Olympics, but in the Paralympics, India has now achieved that feat twice in a row, with Paris being a standout performance. India finished in the top 20 of the medals tally, coming very close to breaking into the top 15, being just a gold medal shy of surpassing Spain.

A Breakdown of India’s 2024 Paralympic Journey

Day 2: A Promising Start

India's campaign got off to a strong start on Day 2 of Paralypmics Paris 2024 after a blank opening day. Shooters Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal opened India’s medal account with a gold and a bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. Avani made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in back-to-back Paralympic Games. Manish Narwal added a silver in men’s 10m air pistol SH1, following up on his gold from Tokyo 2020, while Preethi Pal secured bronze in the women’s 100m T35 event, marking India’s first track medal in Paralympic history.

Day 3 and 4: Continued Success

The momentum continued with Rubina Francis winning bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol SH1 on Day 3. On Day 4, Preethi Pal won a second bronze in the 200m race, and Nishad Kumar added a silver in the men’s high jump T47 category, further bolstering India's medal count.

A Record-Breaking Day: Days 5 to 7

The true breakthrough for India came between Days 5 and 7, when the country won a staggering 17 medals in just three days. Day 5 was particularly historic, with India winning eight medals—the highest in a single day at the Paralympics. The day began with Yogesh Kathuniya winning silver in men’s discus throw F56. Nitesh Kumar claimed India’s only gold in para-badminton, while Suhas Yathiraj, Thulasimathi Murugesan, and Manisha Ramadass added medals in badminton. Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won bronze in mixed team compound open archery. The highlight was Sumit Antil retaining his Paralympic title in javelin with a record-breaking throw of 70.59m.

Day 6: Surpassing Tokyo

On Day 6 of Paralymics Paris 2024, India added five more medals, surpassing the 19 medals won at Tokyo 2020 and achieving its best-ever performance. Deepthi Jeevanji won bronze in women’s 400m T20. India also saw two double-podium finishes: Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar in men’s javelin throw F46, and Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu in men’s high jump T63.

Day 7: Historic Wins

Day 7 was another historic day. Harvinder Singh won gold in men’s individual recurve open archery, becoming the first Indian to win a Paralympic gold in this event. Dharambir Nain and Pranav Soorma achieved India’s first-ever one-two finish in the men’s club throw F51 event, and Sachin Khilari won silver in men’s shot put F46.

Days 8 to 10: Final Flourishes

India’s success continued on the final days. Kapil Parmar won the country’s first judo medal with bronze in men’s 60kg J1 on Day 8. On Day 9, Praveen Kumar and Hokato Hotozhe Sema won gold and bronze in men’s high jump T64 and men’s shot put F57, respectively. On the final day, Simran Sharma secured bronze in the women’s 200m T12, making up for her narrow miss in the 100m final. The final medal of the campaign came from Navdeep Singh, whose silver in men’s javelin throw F41 was upgraded to gold following a disqualification, marking India’s seventh gold medal.

A Transformative Era for Indian Paralympic Sports

The Paris Paralympics 2024 have truly transformed the landscape of Indian sports. With 29 medals, including numerous historic firsts and record-breaking performances, this edition will be remembered as a watershed moment for India’s para-athletes.

The country’s continued progress from past performances highlights a bright future for Indian Paralympic sports, inspiring athletes and fans alike. As India celebrates these achievements, the legacy of Paris 2024 will undoubtedly propel future generations towards even greater success.

Closing Ceremony : Ending The Event With Celebrations

As the final day unfolded, attention turned to the closing ceremony, which promised to be a fitting conclusion to this momentous event. The ceremony featured a vibrant mix of performances, including jazz music, thematic dances, and speeches by dignitaries, celebrating the achievements of all the para-athletes who left their mark on the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Overall The Paralympics Paris 2024 was not just about athletic achievements; it was also a testament to the power of diversity and inclusion. Athletes with a wide range of disabilities competed on a level playing field, inspiring others to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.

The games showcased the incredible human spirit and the importance of creating a more inclusive and equitable society. The legacy of the Paris 2024 Paralympics will undoubtedly continue to inspire athletes and fans for years to come.