India delivered its best-ever performance at the Paralympics, surpassing the previous record for podium finishes, thanks to outstanding performances from the nation’s track and field athletes on Tuesday.
In a late evening surge, India increased its medal count to 20 (3 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze), surpassing the previous best of 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympic Games three years ago.
On a landmark day for Indian para sports, track and field athletes shined for the second consecutive day at the historic Stade de France, securing five medals—two silver and three bronze—placing India 17th after six days of the competition.
India had previously won five gold, eight silver, and six bronze medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
Javelin throwers Ajeet Singh and world record holder Sundar Singh Gurjar set high standards, winning silver and bronze in the F46 category with throws of 65.62m and 64.96m, respectively. The F46 category is designated for athletes with moderate movement impairments in one or both arms or the absence of limbs.
High jumpers Sharad Kumar and Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu showcased their skills in the T63 finals, earning silver and bronze with jumps of 1.88m and 1.85m, respectively. The T63 category includes athletes with moderate movement impairments in one leg or those missing limbs above the knee.
Earlier, world champion sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji secured a bronze medal in the women’s 400m (T20) event, finishing her debut Games with a time of 55.82 seconds. She placed behind Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar (55.16 seconds) and Turkey’s world record holder Aysel Onder (55.23 seconds). The T20 category is for athletes with intellectual impairments.
Jeevanji, the daughter of farm laborers from Kalleda Village in Telangana’s Warangal district, was diagnosed with an intellectual impairment after being identified at a school athletics meet by her teacher.
Despite facing ridicule in her village due to her disability, she has become a celebrated athlete, having won gold at last year’s Asian Para Games and breaking the world record at the Para World Championships earlier this year. National badminton coach Pullela Gopichand also supported her training under her first coach, Nagpuri Ramesh.
