Paris Paralympics: Complete roster of Indian Athletes, sports, events, categories

NEW DELHI: India has announced its largest ever contingent for the Paris 2024 Paralympics, scheduled from August 28 to September 8. The 84 member team, which includes 32 women, represents a significant increase from the 54 athletes (14 women) sent to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

The Indian team will participate in 12 sports, including three new additions: para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo. Arshad Shaik and Jyoti Gaderiya will compete in the men's and women's C2 para cycling events, respectively. Kapil Parmar and Kokila will represent India in blind judo, while Anita and K. Narayana will take part in PR3 mixed doubles sculls in para rowing.

India achieved its best ever performance at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, winning 19 medals (five gold, eight silver, and six bronze). Several medal winners from Tokyo will be returning to compete in Paris, including Avani Lekhara, who won gold in the women's R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event and became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal.

Sumit Antil, the men's F64 javelin thrower who won gold at Tokyo 2020 and holds the world record, will also be part of the Indian contingent.

Table tennis player Bhavina Patel, who won India's first Paralympic medal in the sport, will compete in the women's singles event and partner with Sonalben Patel in the women's doubles.

Harvinder Singh, the first Indian to win an archery medal at the Paralympics, will appear in men's individual recurve open and mixed team recurve open in the ST category.

This list represents Indian athletes who are competing in various Para Sports events, categorized by their respective sports and events. Each athlete is also classified based on their specific category or classification within their sport. Here's a breakdown:

1. Para Archery
Athletes:

• Harvinder Singh (ST)
• Rakesh Kumar (W2)
• Shyam Sundar Swami (ST)
• Pooja (ST)
• Sarita (W2)
• Sheetal Devi (ST)

Events:

• Men's/Women's Individual Recurve/Compound Open
• Mixed Team Recurve/Compound Open

Categories:

• ST (Standing): Athletes who can stand.
• W2 (Wheelchair 2): Athletes with significant impairment and use a wheelchair.

2. Para Athletics
Athletes:

• Sumit Antil (F64)
• Sandeep (F64)
• Yogesh Kathuniya (F56)
• Mariyappan Thangavelu (T63)
• Nishad Kumar (T47)

Events:

• Track (e.g., 400m, 100m)
• Field (e.g., Javelin Throw, Shot Put, High Jump, Discus Throw)

Categories:

• T (Track) and F (Field) Categories: These classifications denote the specific type of disability:
• F64: Athletes with leg impairments who compete with a prosthesis.
• T47: Athletes with upper limb impairments.
• T63: Athletes with leg impairments, typically amputees who compete with prosthetics.

3. Para Badminton
Athletes:

• Manoj Sarkar (SL3)
• Nitesh Kumar (SL3)
• Krishna Nagar (SH6)
• Manasi Joshi (SL3)

Events:

• Men's/Women's Singles
• Mixed Doubles

Categories:

• SL3 (Standing Lower 3): Players with impairments in one or both lower limbs who compete standing.
• SH6 (Short Stature 6): Players with short stature due to conditions such as dwarfism.

4. Para Canoe
Athletes:

• Prachi Yadav (VL2)
• Yash Kumar (KL1)

Events:

• Va'a Single 200m
• Kayak Single 200m

Categories:

• VL (Va'a Outrigger Canoe) and KL (Kayak) Categories:
• VL2/KL1: Athletes with significant trunk and lower limb impairments.

5. Para Cycling
Athletes:

• Arshad Shaik (C2)
• Jyoti Gaderiya (C2)
• Events:
• Road Time Trial
• Road Race
• Track Time Trial

Categories:

• C1 C5: Categories based on the severity of impairments, with C1 being the most severe.

6. Blind Judo
Athletes:

• Kapil Parmar (J1)
• Kokila (J2)

Categories:

• J1 (Blind Category 1): Athletes who are blind.
• J2 (Visually Impaired Category 2): Athletes with partial sight.

7. Para Powerlifting

Athletes:

• Parmjeet Kumar
• Sakina Khatun

Events:

• Men's/Women's Weight Categories
• Categories: Not classified by specific disability categories but by weight classes.

8. Para Rowing
Athletes:

• Anita (PR3)
• Narayana K (PR3)

Events:

Mixed Double Sculls

Categories:

PR3: Athletes with the least impairment, including those with visual impairment or impaired muscle power.

9. Para Shooting
Athletes:

• Avani Lekhara (SH1)
• Manish Narwal (SH1)

Events:

10m Air Rifle/Pistol, 50m Rifle Prone, Mixed Events

Categories:

• SH1: Athletes who can support the weight of the gun themselves.
• SH2: Athletes requiring a shooting stand.

10. Para Swimming
Athlete:

Suyash Jadhav (S7)

Events:

50m Butterfly

Categories:

S7: Classification for swimmers with one leg and one arm amputated on opposite sides.

11. Para Table Tennis
Athletes:

• Sonalben Patel (3)
• Bhavinaben Patel (4)

Events:

Women's Singles, Women's Doubles

Categories:

3 and 4: Classifications based on the severity of impairments, with lower numbers indicating more severe impairments.

12. Para Taekwondo
Athlete:

Aruna (K44)

Event:

Women’s 47kg

Category:

K44: Classification for athletes with impairments affecting one arm or leg.

This comprehensive list details the various classifications that ensure fair competition among athletes with similar levels of physical ability. Each category corresponds to the specific type of impairment and the degree to which it affects the athlete's performance in their respective sports.