Paris Paralympics 2024: Who are India's medal contenders today September 3 (Day 6)?

Published at :September 3, 2024 at 11:21 AM

Modified at :September 3, 2024 at 11:21 AM

India can expect plenty of medals on day 6.

India’s impressive run in the Paris Paralympics 2024 continued as India won multiple medals on the fifth day of the quadrennial event from the capital city of France. The fans might have had Monday Blues but not the athletes as they showed exemplary discipline to bring home a total of eight medals. It all started with Yogesh Kathuniya defending his silver medal in the Men’s Discus Throw event.

Para badminton led the way as India’s flag soared high five times on the badminton court, with the national anthem playing once. Nitesh Kumar provided a nail-biting finish, saving match points in the final set to secure India’s second gold medal in the event. Sumit Antil shone in the Javelin Throw, successfully defending his gold medal with a record-breaking throw of 70.59 meters.

However, the most remarkable achievement came from para-archery, where 17-year-old Sheetal Devi, an archer without arms, teamed up with 39-year-old Rakesh Kumar to win bronze in the mixed team compound open event. As we look ahead to Tuesday, there are high hopes for more Indian athletes to bring pride and joy to 1.5 billion people.

India’s medal contenders for Day 6 (September 3) of Paris Paralympics 2024

Avani Lekhra & Mona Agarwal – Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 – 1:00 PM

Already medallists at Paris, Avani and Mona will be taking their rifle to shoot down the target of yet another Paralympic medals. Two-time Paralympic champion Avani Lekhra and Paris Paralympics bronze medalist Mona Agarwal will be competing in the Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1 event. While Avani is already an all-time great of Indian sporting history, Mona could join the ranks as well.

Attacked by Polio and losing her goals, Mona has been ridiculed a lot in her early days. But her determination was evident as she has won a Paralympic medal and a World Cup gold in just three years after taking up the sport. Both will look to repeat the feat and stand on the podium with the national anthem being played in the arena.

Bhagyashree Jadhav – Women’s F34 Shot Put – 2:28 PM

Bhagyashree Jadhav was one of the flag bearers of the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony. While the girl from Maharashtra was honoured to carry the national flag, she would be even prouder if she can make the national flag go high along with the national anthem being played in the background.

The 40-year-old won a silver in the 2022 Asian Para Games with a throw of 7.54m. She would want to make amends for her performance in the Tokyo Olympics where she finished a distant seventh. The para athlete would be eager to throw away the baggage of Tokyo and stand on the podium in Paris.

Mariyappan Thangavelu, Sharad Kumar, Shailesh Kumar – Men’s High Jump T63 – 11:50 PM

India will have three representations in the Men’s High Jump T63 finals. The event will be one of the most expected finals because of the rivalry between India’s Mariyappan Thangavelu and USA’s Sam Grewe. While Mariyappan won gold in Rio pushing the American to silver, it was vice versa in the Tokyo Paralympics. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top between the two.

Sharad Kumar who won bronze last time is in fray to improve the colour of his medal. It is easier said than done as the competition is heavy including another Indian Shailesh Kumar who broke Sharad’s nine-year national record at the Asian Para Games last year to win gold. India would be hoping to see all three para-athletes on the podium.

Sundar Singh Gurjar, Rinku, Ajeet Singh – Men’s Javelin Throw F46 – 12:13 AM

The World Record holder in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 event, Sundar Singh Gurjar, will look to get gold from Paris on Tuesday. The Rajasthan-born thrower is not new to winning gold as he has done it in World Championships and Athletics Grand Prix. He had to settle for bronze in Tokyo and would want the national flag to fly high in Paris.

Two more Throwers from India will be aiming to do the same. Rinku whose personal best of 68.60 could seal the gold for him. His compatriot Ajeet Singh would have happy memories of his gold medal-winning performance from the World Championships last year which was held in Paris. India can expect a couple of medals from this event.

Pooja Jatyan – Para Archery – Women’s Individual Recurve – 3:20 PM

Pooja Jatyan will look to break the gold medal jinx for India in Para Archery. The 26-year-old is not new to Olympics as she was the first-ever Indian to compete in Paralympics Archery event when the Haryana girl competed as an 18-year-old in Rio in 2016.

Eight years down the lane, she has achieved several feats including a silver in World Archery Para Championships in 2022. Pooja will look to better the feat in Paris.

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