India Emerges as Sporting Powerhouse with Historic Performance at Paris Paralympics

New Delhi: Indian Paralympic Committee (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia has declared that after the Paris Paralympics, the world now recognizes India as a true sporting nation. Jhajharia’s statement came after the Indian contingent returned to New Delhi, following a historic campaign at the Paris Paralympics, where they won a record-breaking 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze.

India’s remarkable performance in Paris surpassed its previous best of 19 medals, achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. This success also saw India finishing 18th in the overall medal standings.

In an exclusive interview with Hindusthan Samachar, Jhajharia expressed his pride in the athletes' achievements. He said, "Our athletes made history in Paris. The biggest message from the Paralympics is that the world now sees India as a sporting nation. We are now ranked among the top 20 countries, which is a significant achievement."

Jhajharia credited the Indian government's efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this transformation, acknowledging various initiatives like the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and Khelo India, which have strengthened India's sporting infrastructure over the last decade.

"Thanks to the government’s policies and support, we've made history," Jhajharia noted. "From the creation of training centers to schemes supporting athletes, India’s rise in sports is undeniable. The Prime Minister's personal encouragement and consistent backing have been crucial to our athletes' success."

The Paris Paralympics also saw India setting new benchmarks, with shooter Avani Lekhara becoming the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic golds. Lekhara defended her 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 title with a world-record score of 249.7 points.

Additionally, India secured its first-ever 1-2 finish in para-athletics, as Dharambir and Parneev Surma won gold and silver, respectively, in the men's club throw F51 event. Dharambir also set an Asian record with a throw of 34.92 meters.

High jumper Praveen Kumar clinched gold with a record-breaking leap of 2.08 meters in the T64 category, while Sumit Antil became the first Indian male to successfully defend a Paralympic title, winning gold in the F64 javelin event with a remarkable throw of 70.59 meters. Antil broke his own record three times during the competition.

In another first, India claimed its maiden archery gold, with Harvinder Singh defeating Poland's Lukasz Ciszek in the individual recurve para-archery event.

Jhajharia concluded by extending his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and the entire support network that contributed to the athletes’ triumphs. "From the massage therapists to the Prime Minister, every individual involved in this journey shares in the success of our athletes. This achievement is not the result of one person but the collective effort of the entire Paralympic Committee of India family."

India's outstanding performance at the Paris Paralympics has set a new standard, solidifying its place on the global sporting stage.