The Paris 2024 Paralympics wrapped up today, celebrating a historic milestone for Indian athletes who showcased extraordinary talent and resilience throughout the competition.
India finished its campaign with a total of 29 medals—seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze—making it the country’s most successful Paralympics to date. Pooja Ojha was the final athlete in action but did not qualify for the women’s kayak 200m final, which wrapped up India’s participation. With this, India secured the 18th position in the overall rankings.
This time, India surpassed several top nations, including South Korea, Turkey, and Switzerland. The remarkable progress shown by Indian athletes in Paris sets high expectations for the next Paralympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles.
Navdeep Singh’s Gold in Men’s Javelin
Navdeep Singh secured India’s final medal in men’s javelin throw. Competing in the category for athletes of short stature, Navdeep initially finished with a silver after a 47.32m throw, surpassing world record holder Sun Pengxiang of China.
However, his medal was upgraded to gold after Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag. Pengxiang ended up with the silver, with a best throw of 44.72m. Sayah had briefly set a new Paralympic record of 47.64m but lost the medal due to his conduct. The International Paralympic Committee prohibits political gestures, leading to his disqualification for unsportsmanlike behavior.
For Navdeep, this gold medal was a redemption after his fourth-place finish in the Tokyo Paralympics. An inspector in the Income Tax Department, Navdeep has won five national medals since starting his sporting journey in 2017 and earned a bronze at the Para World Championships earlier this year.
After the flag-bearing athlete parade, Paris will officially pass the baton to Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Paralympic Summer Games. India’s remarkable performance in Paris sets the stage for even greater achievements in the future. With athletes showing immense dedication and potential, the nation will look forward to continuing its upward trajectory in para-sports. As the spotlight shifts to Los Angeles, India’s para-athletes are sure to train harder, aiming for an even stronger showing and more historic moments at the next Paralympic Games.