A record number of 84 para-athletes will represent India at the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Gameswhich takes place from August 28 to September 8.

India will compete in 12 disciplines at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, three more than in Tokyo 2020.

Javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shooter Avani Lekhara, both gold medallists at the Tokyo Paralympics, will lead the Indian delegation in Paris. Sumit Antil holds the world record for throwing 73.29 m, while Avani Lekhara is India’s first female Paralympic Games gold medal winner.

High jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu is a two-time Paralympic medallist, having won gold in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020.

Table tennis player Bhavina Patel and archer Harvinder Singh, who won India’s first Paralympic medal in their respective disciplines, will battle it out for a second medal.

Tokyo 2020 was India’s most successful Paralympic Games, with the country winning 19 medals, including five gold, eight silver and six bronze.

Indian para-athletes will compete in three new sports at the 2024 Paris Games: para-cycling, para-rowing and blind judo.

Arshad Shaik will participate in the men’s C2 para-cycling events, while Jyoti Gaderiya will participate in the women’s C2 events.

Kapil Parmar will be competing in the men’s 60kg J1 event in blind judo and he will be joined in the sport by Kokila, who is competing in the women’s 48kg J2 category. Anita and K. Narayana will be representing India in PR3 mixed doubles sculls in para rowing.

India has put in an impressive performance at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paralympic Games, defending her title in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 shooting event with a world record score. With Mona Agarwal winning bronze, it was also the first time that India achieved a double podium finish in a single event at the Paralympic Games.

Earlier, armless archer Sheetal Devi briefly held the world record score in the ranking round before finishing second. Later, Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi combined to win a world record score compound mixed team qualifying event.

Preethi Pal claimed bronze in the women’s 100m T35 race with a personal best. It was India’s first-ever medal in a track event at the Paralympics.

India has so far won five medals – one gold, one silver and three bronze – at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games: India’s medal winners