Total medals won by India in every edition of Summer Paralympics

India made its paralympics debut in 1968 at Tel Aviv, Israel.

India has been consistently competing at the Paralympics since 1984. The nation did not take part in the first two editions and made its debut in the third edition in 1968. India again missed two editions of the Paralympics in 1976 and 1980. But the past few editions have seen the Indian para-athletes break world records on their way to winning gold.

India’s first medal at the Para games came in 1972 at Heidelberg, Germany. Murlikant Petkar won gold in men’s 50m freestyle 3 swimming event. He not only gave India’s first Paralympic medal but also set a world record in the event with a timing of 37.33 seconds.

The nation saw more records being set in the Stoke Mandeville/New York games in 1984. Bhimrao Kesarkar won the silver medal in men’s javelin throw L6 as Joginder Singh Bedi went on to collect three medals for the nation. Bedi became the first Indian athlete to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Paralympics.

He won silver in men’s shot put L6, bronze in javelin throw L6 and discus throw L6. The next four editions saw the nation returning home empty handed. It was not until the Athens Paralympics 2004 that saw Indian athletes reclaiming the lost glory.

Also Read: Total medals won by India in each sport at Summer Paralympics

Devendra Jhajharia set a world record while securing gold in men’s javelin throw F44/46. Rajinder Singh Rahelu won bronze medal in men’s powerlifting 56kg and gave India’s first medal in powerlifting. The next edition at Beijing was an unsuccessful attempt as the nation could not win a medal.

During the London Paralympics 2012, Girish N Gowda was the only medallist for India. He won silver in men’s high jump F42. The Rio Paralympics 2016 saw the nation collecting four medals. Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold in men’s high jump T42 and Jhajharia became the first Indian athlete with two gold paralympic medals. He finished first in the men’s javelin throw F46.

The Rio games also saw Deepa Malik become India’s first female paralympic medallist. She won silver in women’s shot put F53. In the next edition of the Paralympics at Tokyo, the Indian athletes came back with a huge haul of medals. 19 medals were won which included five gold medals, eight silvers and six bronze.

Bhavina Patel became the first Indian table tennis player to win a Paralympic medal as Harvinder Singh did the same in archery. Shooter Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal.

She also became the first Indian woman to win multiple medals in a single edition of the Paralympics. Jhajharia won his third Paralympic medal with a silver in men’s javelin throw F46.

Lekhara won India’s first gold at Paris Paralympics 2024. She set an Paralympic record of 249.7 in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Mona Agarwal secured the bronze medal with a score of 228.7. Preethi Pal became the first Indian to win a medal in track event at Paralympics. She won bronze in women’s T35 100m event.

Medals won by India in every edition of Paralympics

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