After 12 days of action-packed sporting events, the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 ended on September 5th 2021. The event was supposed to be hosted in 2020, but due to the covid outbreak, it was postponed to 2021.
The top three nations to bag their Paralympic medals are China, Great Britain and The United States of America.Â
India ranked 24th on the international medalist of Paralympic 2020 with a total medal tally of 19 medals, which is India’s best-ever medal haul in the history of Paralympics. This medal tally is more than 12 medals from all the previous Paralympics participation from India.
India bagged five gold medals, eight silver medals and six bronze medals.
This season Indias participation in the event was the highest ever from the country, with 54 athletes (40 men and 14 women) across nine sports.
History of India in Paralympics
In 1968, India made its first debut in the Summer Paralympics Games and competed in the next event in 1972. However, India remained absent in the competition until 1984.
Since then, India has participated in every edition of the event. India has never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games.
In 1972, Murlikant Petkar won the gold medal in swimming, setting a world record of 37.331 seconds in a 50-meter freestyle and bringing India’s first Paralympic medal ever.
India continued to participate and win medals until 1984 and made a comeback in 2004 when Devendra Jhajharia won a gold medal in Javelin Throw and Rajinder Singh Rahelu won a bronze medal powerlifting.
Tokyo Paralympics 2020
Indias Tokyo Paralympic 2020 campaign presented 54 athletes (40 men and 14 women), a record high. During the twelve days of Paralympic sporting events, India won 19 medals – 5 gold medals, eight silver medals and six bronze medals.
India finished 24th among 162 participating countries in medal tally based on gold medals. India was placed 20th based on the total number of medals won (19).
Gold Medalists
Avani Lakhera is one of the two athletes who won multiple medals – Avani Lakhera (gold and bronze).
Athletes Krishna Nagar won a gold medal in badminton, winning the game against Chu Man Kai from China.
Sumit Antil won the gold medal in men’s Javelin throw F64 beating M.Burian from Australia.
Manish Narwal won the gold medal in Mixed 50m pistol SH1, beating an Indian athlete Singhraj Adhana who won the silver medal.
Pramod Bhagat won gold in Men’s singles SL3 in badminton, beating D.Bethell from Great Britain.
Silver Medalists
Bhavnaben Patel won a silver medal in Table Tennis Women’s Class 4, losing to world number one Ying Zhou from China.
Nishad Kumar won a silver medal after finishing second in Men’s high jump T47 below Roderick Townsend-Roberts from the USA.Â
Yogesh Kathunia won silver by coming second in Men’s discus throw F56 behind C.Batista from Brazil.
Singaraj Adhana won multiple medals (silver and bronze) in shooting P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 and Shooting P1 men’s 10m AP.
Suhas Yathiraj won silver in Badminton Men’s singles SL4 behind Lucas Mazur of France.
Praveen Kumar won a silver in Men’s High Jump T64 behind J.Broom-Edwards from Great Britain.
Devendra won silver in Men’s javelin throw F46 behind Sri Lankan D.Priyantha.
Mariyappan Thangavelu won silver in High Jump Men’s T42 behind Sam Grewe from the USA.
Bronze Medalists
Sunder Singh Gurjar won bronze in Men’s javelin throw F46.
Singhraj Adhana won bronze in Shooting P1 Men’s 10 AP.
Sharad Kumar won a bronze medal in Men’s high jump T63.
Manoj Sarkar won bronze in Badminton Men’s Singles SL3.
Harvinder Singh won a bronze in Archery Men’s Individual Recurve.
Avani Lekhara came third in Shooting Women’s 50m Rifle 3P SH1.
