India announces flag bearers for Paris Paralympics 2024

India is sending its largest ever contingent to the Paris Paralympics.

India has announced its flag bearers for the upcoming Paris Paralympics 2024. Shot putter Bhagyashree Jadhav and javelin thrower Sumit Antil have been selected to lead the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony, scheduled for August 28.

This announcement comes as India prepares to send its largest-ever Paralympic team to the games. With 84 athletes set to compete, the contingent has grown substantially from the 54-member team that participated in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Bhagyashree Jadhav, from Maharashtra, has been chosen for her consistent performances in shot put on the international stage. Jadhav made her mark with a seventh-place finish at the Tokyo Paralympics and secured a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games. Her selection as a flag bearer recognizes her steady progress since her international debut in 2017.

Sumit Antil, the other flag bearer, is a standout athlete in the javelin throw F-64 category. Antil currently holds the world record with a throw of 68.55 meters, which earned him a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. He has since improved on this performance, winning gold at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships and setting a new world record of 73.29 meters at the 2022 Asian Para Games.

The Paris Paralympics, set to run from August 28 to September 8, marks a historic moment for the host city. This will be the first time Paris has hosted the Paralympic Games, although France previously hosted the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes and Albertville.

The Indian Paralympic contingent’s expanded size also raises expectations for the country’s performance at the games. With more athletes competing across various events, India hopes to improve upon its impressive showing at the Tokyo Paralympics, where it won 19 medals, including 5 gold.

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