2021 will go down in the history of Indian sports as a golden year as our athletes scripted history both at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 and now at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. We have broken records and clinched medals under various sports categories. We’ve scored in events like Athletics, Shooting and Table Tennis, and Badminton.
At the recently concluded Tokyo Paralympics 2020, the Indian medal tally is shining bright with a total of 19 medals (5 Gold, 8 Silver and 6 Bronze medals).
Let’s know more about our athletes who made India shine radiantly at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020:
1. Avani Lekhara Wins Gold in Women’s Shooting
Shooter Avani Lekhara added a shining gold to the Indian medal tally. She scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold at the Paralympics under the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event. The 19-year-old athlete also made a Paralympic record and equalled the world record with 249.6 points.
“I can’t describe this feeling, I’m feeling like I’m on top of the world. It’s unexplainable,” said an elated Lekhara after winning the Gold medal.
Bronze Medal in Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1
With a score of 445.9 Avani won her second medal (bronze) in women’s 50m rifle 3 positions. She became the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
2. Sumit Antil Clinches Gold in Men’s Javelin Throw (F64)
India’s second gold came on the sixth day of the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. Sumit Antil set a new world record with a throw of 68.55m. The wrestler-turned-javelin thrower broke his record, not once but thrice during the final stage of the event.
3. Yogesh Kathuniya Clinches Silver Medal in Men’s Discus Throw (F56)
Bagging the silver medal with his best throw of 44.38 m in the Men’s Discus Throw (F56) event, the 24-year-old achieved the feat in his sixth attempt. He was surpassed only by Brazil’s world record holder Batista Dos Santos Claudiney with a registered throw of 45.59m. The silver medal has motivated our young Yogesh to strive for gold at the Paris 2024 Games.
4. Devendra Jhajharia Wins Silver in Men’s Javelin Throw
The Men’s Javelin Throw F46 final event landed us another silver. Devendra Jhajharia clinched the medal with his best throw of 64.35m. This is his third medal at the Paralympic Games with a gold at Athens 2004 and Rio 2016.
5. Sundar Singh Gurjar Wins Bronze in Men’s Javelin Throw
In Men’s Javelin Throw, Sundar Singh Gurjar added a bronze to keep the Indian medal tally up and going. His best throw was registered at 61.23m.
6. Singhraj Adhana Wins Bronze Medal in Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1
Another bronze was added to the Indian medal tally at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. Singhraj Adhana clinched the medal with 216.8 points. This medal count makes it the highest ever medal tally at any Paralympic Games.
Silver Medal in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1
Singhraj Adhana clinched another medal at the Tokyo Paralympics and this time it was the silver in the Mixed 50m Pistol (SH1). He had scored 216.7 points to win the medal.
7. Nishad Kumar Wins Silver in Men’s High Jump (T47)
Nishad Kumar cleared 2.06m to add the silver to the standing tally. Finishing second, Nishad Kumar also set a new Asian record.
8. Bhavinaben Hasmukhbhai Patel wins historic silver in Table Tennis
Bhavinaben became the first Indian table tennis player to win a medal at the Paralympics. She lost in the final against Zhou Ying of China in the Women’s Singles Class 4 category.
9. Mariyappan Thangavelu Wins Silver in Men’s High Jump (T63)
Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched the silver after going beyond the mark of 1.86m. This is his second win at the Games; he had also won a gold in Rio 2016.
10. Sharad Kumar Wins Bronze in Men’s High Jump
Sharad Kumar grabbed the bronze after scaling his season-best mark of 1.83m and soared to the podium. Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar won silver and bronze medals, respectively in the high jump T63 (combined with T42) class — for athletes with limb deficiencies — to take India’s tally to 10.
11. Archer Harvinder Singh Wins Bronze in Men’s Individual Recurve
Harvinder became the first Indian to win a medal in archery at the Paralympics with a bronze in the men’s individual recurve event at the Tokyo Paralympics. Harvinder Singh shot a 10 in the shoot-off against South Korean Kim Min Su’s 8 to score the bronze medal match 6-5.
12. Praveen Kumar Wins Silver in Men’s T-64 High Jump
Praveen Kumar won the silver medal in the Men’s High Jump T64 final with a jump of 2.07m, creating a new Asian Record. He lost the gold to Great Britain’s Jonathan Broom-Edwards, who secured his season’s best of 2.10m to clinch the gold.
13. Krishna Nagar Wins Gold Medal in Men’s Singles SH6
Krishna Nagar won the second Para-Badminton gold for India in the men’s singles SH6 final. His achievement made him the first-ever SH6 gold medallist in the history of the Indian Paralympics.
14. Pramod Bhagat Wins Gold in Men’s Badminton Singles SL3
Para shuttler Pramod Bhagat clinched a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics and wishes that India becomes the next para-badminton hub in the world.
15. Manoj Sarkar Wins Bronze Medal in Men’s Badminton Singles SL3
Shuttler Manoj Sarkar won a bronze medal in the Men’s Singles SL3 event at the recently concluded Tokyo Paralympics. He defeated Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara 22-20, 21-13 in the final, adding to India’s medal tally.
16. Suhas L. Yathiraj Wins Silver in Men’s Badminton Singles SL4
Suhas L. Yathiraj scored a historic silver after fighting against top seed Lucas Mazur of France in the men’s singles SL4 class final at the Tokyo Paralympics on Sunday.
17. Manish Narwal Wins Gold Medal in Mixed 50m Pistol SH1
Manish made a Paralympic record with 218.2 points to the top honour at the final of the men’s P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1.
India registered their best-ever haul at the Tokyo Paralympics. We are proud of their achievement and give all the players our heartfelt congratulations.
