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The Paris Paralympic Games 2024 concluded with India's Pooja Ojha bowing out after failing to qualify for the women's kayak 200m final. India finished with a remarkable 29 medals: seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze, achieving its most successful Paralympic campaign to date. This achievement secured India 18th place in the points table. In contrast, Pakistan, also competing in the Games, finished in the joint-bottom position at 79th, with a single bronze medal to their name.
India's performance surpassed that of several top nations, including Switzerland, Belgium, South Korea, Turkey, and Argentina, placing them among the top 20 countries worldwide. While traditional Paralympic heavyweights like China, Great Britain, the USA, and Italy secured positions within the top 10, India's substantial progress at the Paris Games signals their potential for further success at the 2028 LA Para Games.
India's final medal, a gold, was claimed by Navdeep Singh in the men's javelin throw F41 classification on Saturday. Navdeep, competing in the classification for athletes of short stature, initially secured silver after surpassing world record holder Sun Pengxiang of China with a throw of 47.32m. However, this was upgraded to gold following the disqualification of Iran's Sadegh Beit Sayah for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag. Sayah had initially led the competition with a new Paralympic record of 47.64m in his penultimate throw but was penalized for his actions, which violated the International Paralympic Committee's rule against political gestures.
At the same venue, Simran, guided by Abhay Singh, achieved a personal best of 24.75 seconds in the women's 200m (T12) event, earning her a bronze medal. Simran, who was diagnosed as visually impaired at birth, is the reigning world champion in this event. Having finished fourth in the 100m competition at the Games, her bronze medal redeemed her campaign. Track-and-field contributed significantly to India's medal tally, securing 17 medals, including four gold. India secured 15th place in the overall standings, led by China with a staggering 208 medals, including 90 gold medals.
Navdeep's gold medal at the Paris Games marked a significant achievement for the athlete, having finished fourth in the Tokyo Games. An inspector in the Income Tax Department, Navdeep has been active in the sport since 2017, securing five national medals and a bronze at the para-world championships earlier this year. Simran, on the other hand, has a distinguished track record in the sport, having won two silver medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year and three gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and long jump at the inaugural Khelo India Para Games last December. She is currently coached by her husband, Naik Gajendra Singh.
Source: India Ends Paris Paralympics 2024 With 29 Medals. Pakistan, China Got...