Summer Paralympics 2024 started on August 28 and will conclude on 8th September. It is taking place in Paris. There is a chance that India will break its record of best statistics at the Tokyo 2020 with amazing performances at the Paris Summer Paralympics 2024. A total of 19 medals were won by Indian athletes at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, while India has already bagged 15 medals at the Paris Summer Paralympics 2024. India is now on 15th rank.
Two Gold Medals
IIT Graduate and Badminton player, Nitesh Kumar bagged a gold medal in Men’s singles SL3. Nitesh lost his leg in a train accident in in Visakhapatnam in 2009. During his time at the IIT, he developed his interest for badminton and started training for it.
Sumit Antil is an Indian Javelin Thrower who won a gold medal in Men’s javelin throw F64. He recorded a distance of 70.59 metres. In 2015, during a motorbike accident, Sumit lost his left leg. Despite this, he didnโt lose his morale and continued to pursue sports. Sumit used to do wrestling before the amputation.
Three Silver Medals
Indian Badminton player – Thulasimathi Murugesan, bagged a silver medal in Women’s singles SU5. Thulasimathi Murugesan suffered from congenital deformity in her left hand. This led to loss of thumb, chronic ulnar neuritis, and muscle atrophy. She also met with an accident which affected her extension and flexion in her left hand.
Yogesh Kathuniya, Indian Discus Thrower, won a silver medal in Men’s discus throw F56 with a distance of 42.22 metres. He has a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barrรฉ syndrome. This syndrome occurs when bodyโs immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system.
IAS Officer and Indian Badminton player โ Suhas Yathiraj won a silver medal in Men’s singles SL4. Suhas was born with a congenital deformity in his left ankle which also affects his mobility.
Two Bronze Medals
Indian Badminton player โ Manisha Ramadass won a bronze medal in Women’s singles SU5. Reportedly, Manisha formed a disability in her right arm as the doctors during her birth, had to pull her with her right shoulder which resulted in the disability of right shoulder.
Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar are Indian Archers who won a bronze medal in mixed team compound open archery event. Sheetal is the first and the only female international para-archery champion who doesnโt have upper limbs. Sheetal was born with a rare condition called phocomelia, which caused her to be born without upper limbs. Rakesh Kumar suffered from a spinal cord injury in 2009, which made him wheelchair bound.