India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 – A Treasure Or Wreckage?

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 – A Treasure Or Wreckage?

India’s First Appearance :

In 1968 (Tel Aviv, Israel) India made their first debut in the Paralympics. Since 1968, India has been participating only in summer Paralympics, it has never participated in winter. Unfortunately, India didn’t win a medal in 1968.

In 1972, India competed for the second time and won gold. India was absent between 1976 and 1980. India made their re-entry into the Paralympics in 1984 and won 4 medals. India was competing in all since 1984. India ranked 55th in the medal-winning stream.

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?

Indian Contingent in 1968 Paralympics games that is played in TelAviv city, Israel.

Watch our video on our YouTube  channel in Tamizh :

Heidelberg 1972 , Germany:

Murlikant Petkar won a gold in 50m swimming freestyle at 37.33s.From India 10 athletes participated in 1972.

Murlikant Petkar - India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
Murlikant Petkar, in 1970 Paralympic games.

Stoke Mandeville 1984, England/ New York, US:

1984 paralympic games - India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
1984 Paralympic games logo

5 athletes have participated in this Paralympics and won 4 medals for India.

Joginder Singh Bedi is one who won 3 medals.

Out of which one is silver in men’s shot put and 2 bronze in men’s javelin and men’s discus throw.

Bhimrao Kesarkar was the other who won a silver in men’s javelin.

From 1988 to 2000 :

In 1988 (Seoul, South Korea) 2 athletes participated and returned with 0 medals. In 1992(Barcelona & Madrid, Spain) & 1996 (Atlanta, US)  9 athletes participated and returned with no medals. Similarly, in 2000 (Sydney, Australia) 4 athletes didn’t win a medal.

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
India’s Dry run in Paralympics from 1988 to 2000

Athens 2004, Greece:

12 athletes participated and 2 of them won 2 medals for India. Devendra Jhajharia won gold in the men’s javelin.  Rajinder Singh Rahelu won a bronze in men’s 56 kg powerlifting.

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
Devendra in 2004 Paralympic Games

Beijing 2008, China:

5 athletes have participated and won none of the medals.

London 2012, England:

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
Girish in 2012 London Paralympic games.

10 of the athletes participated and won a medal. Girisha Nagarajegowda won a  silver in the men’s high jump.

Rio de Janeiro 2016, Brazil:

19 athletes participated and won 4 medals.  In Rio 2016 Tamilnadu’s Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold in men’s high jump and  Devendra Jhajharia won a gold in men’s javelin throw.

Deepa Malik won a silver in the women’s shot put. She was the first woman to win a medal in the Paralympics. Varun Singh Bhati won a bronze in the men’s high jump.

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
Mariyappan in Rio 2016 Paralympic games
India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
India’s performance in 2016 

Tokyo 2020, Japan:

54 athletes participated in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and won 19 medals. Due to the corona pandemic, it was held in 2021. Tokyo 2020 was the first-ever Paralympics in which India participated in many categories and won many medals.

Avani Lekhara won gold in shooting in women’s 10m air rifle and became the first woman to win gold medal. Sumit Antil won gold in the men’s javelin throw. Manish Narwal won gold in mixed 50 m pistols. Pramod Bhagat won gold in badminton men’s singles and Krishna Nagar won gold in men’s singles badminton.

Bhavin Patel won silver in women’s singles table tennis. Nishad Kumar won the silver men’s high jump. Yogesh Kathuniya won silver in the men’s discus throw. Devendra Jhajharia won silver in the men’s javelin throw.

This was his third medal and the only person to win 2 gold in the Paralympics representing India. Mariyappan Thangavelu and Praveen Kumar each won silver in the men’s high jump. Singhara  Adhana won silver in men’s 50 m pistol shooting. Suhas Lalinkere Yathiraj won silver in badminton men’s singles.

Sundar Singh Gurjar won bronze in the men’s javelin throw. Singhara  Adhana won bronze in shooting men’s 10m air rifle.. Sharad Kumar won bronze in the men’s high jump.

Avani Lekhara won bronze in shooting, women’s 50 m rifle 3 positions and this was her 2nd medal in  Tokyo Paralympics 2020. Harvinder Singh won a bronze in archery men’s individual recurve open. Manoj Sarkar won bronze in badminton men’s singles.

India In Paralympics from 1968-2020 - A Treasure Or Wreckage?
India medals in Tokyo 2020

CATEGORIES IN PARALYMPICS :

  • Athletics
  • Shooting
  • Badminton
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Archery
  • Powerlifting.

INDIA IN PARALYMPIC MEDAL HISTORY OF INDIA

  • Gold: 9   (4 – Athletics; 2 – Shooting; 2 – Badminton; 1-Swimming)
  • Silver: 12   ( 9- Athletics; 1-Shooting; 1-Badminton; 1- Table tennis)
  • Bronze: 10  ( 5- Athletics; 2-Shooting; 1-Badminton; 1- Archery; 1-Powerlifting)

TOTAL MEDALS WON BY INDIANS IN PARALYMPICS: 31

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