From 12 medals in 11 editions to 48 medals in the last two editions, India have come a long way at the Summer Paralympics.
When a record 54 para athletes participated in the Tokyo Games three years ago, the expectation was always for the best ever show. And they did not disappoint, they came back with a record haul of 19 medals -- five gold, eight silver and six bronze. India had won only four gold medals in their Paralympic history before Tokyo.
So, when India set out for the Paris Games this year, they set a big target of 25 medals as a record 84 para athletes leave for the French Capital.
After the able-bodied athletes from the country came back from Paris without fulfilling the target of double-digit mark, India's enthusiasm was a bit shaken. India won six medals at the Summer Olympics, one less than their record haul of seven in Tokyo.
But the heroics from Indian para athletes surprised all and not only they achieved the target they set on, but exceeded it in style. India won an astonishing 29 medals in Paris - seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze. What a performance!
Athletics - India's medal depot- Athletics contributed as many as 17 medals for India - that's more than half of the total medal haul - 58.62%.
- With four gold, it has a similar share of total gold medals too -- 57.14%.
Other sports with medals for India- Badminton: 5 medals -- One gold, two silver and two bronze
- Shooting: 4 medals -- One gold, one silver and two bronze
- Archery: 2 medals -- One gold and one bronze
- Judo: 1 medal -- One bronze
How India won their best ever medal haul of 29 at Paris Paralympics
India scored blank on the first day of the competition in Paris. But it was just a mere side note to the exciting journey for the Indian para athletes. After that, they won medals every day for the next nine competitive days to shatter all expectations.
Three particular days, back-to-back, were truly spectacular for India. From Day 5 to Day 7, India bagged as many as 17 medals - more than half of the total haul. Before that, let's delve into how all these started.
Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal
Shooters opened the account for IndiaIndia's first medal in Paris came from Tokyo gold medallist shooter Avani Lekhara, who defended her title in women's 10m air rifle standing SH1. It became a double celebration for India as Mona Agarwal won the bronze medal in the same event. Lekhara became the first Indian woman athlete to win multiple medals at Paralympics.
On the same day, Manish Narwal won a silver in the men's 10m air pistol SH1, and sprinter Preethi Pal won a bronze in women's 100m - T35. India opened their account in style winning four medals on the day.
Lull days before a big tsunamiShooter Rubina Francis made sure that India did not end empty handed on Day 3, winning a bronze in women's 10m air pistol SH1. The only medal for the day for India.
Athletics kept the medal count ticking on the fourth day of the competition, winning a silver and a bronze. Nishad Kumar won a silver in men's high jump - T47, before sprinter Preethi Pal adding another bronze in women's 200m - T35. Pal ended the Paris Games as the only multi-medallists from India.
Seven medals in the first four days was a decent start, but not the kind India expected with the target of 25 medals.
Sumit Antil
The floodgate opened - three days, 17 medalsThe next three days saw India winning an unprecedented 17 medals, including four gold.
Day 5 -- The day began with a silver in men's discus throw - F56. Yogesh Kathuniya standing proudly on the podium.
Shuttlers joined the party, with Nitesh Kumar winning a gold in men's singles SL3. Four more medals followed in badminton on the same day -- silver for Thulasimathi Murugesan in women's singles SU5, bronze for Manisha Ramadass in women's singles SU5, silver for Suhas LY in men's singles SL4 and bronze for Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivam in women's Singles SH6.
Sumit Antil then won gold in men's javelin throw - F64. Para archers made it a memorable day, winning a bronze in mixed team compound open event. Armless wonder Sheetal Devi and veteran Rakesh Kumar made it an eight-medal day for India -- their best ever one day performance.
India's para archers Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi
Day 6 -- India did not start well with Avani Lekhara missing out on her second medal in women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 final.
Late in the evening, athletics compensated for the lull during the day with back-to-back five medals.
Deepthi Jeevanji started with a bronze in women's 400m - T20. India then had a double podium finish with Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu winning silver and bronze respectively in men’s high jump - T63. Within an hour, India had another double podium finish. This time in men's javelin throw - F46, with Ajeet Singh winning silver and Sundar Singh Gurjar bronze.
So, India won five medals on the day and more importantly they officially made it their best ever Paralympic campaign with 20 medals. And five days of competition were still left in Paris.
Day 7 -- High on their best ever showing, Indian athletes came into the competition with the aim to make it a truly record shattering Paralympics. And the athletes did not disappoint with the next target - 25 medals - in their sight.
Sachin Sarjerao Khilari opened the day's account with a silver in men's shot put - F46. Athletics then provided the first gold-silver podium finish for India in Paris with Dharambir and Pranav Soorma winning the top two prize in men's club throw - F51.
Archer Harvinder Singh then added icing on the cake by winning India's first archery gold in Paralympics, clinching the men's individual recurve open title.
Acheiving the 25-mark targetWith already 24 medals in seven days, India were on the verge of history.
A bronze in judo the next day by Kapil Parmar, in men's -60kg J1, made it 25-medal campaign for India, a truly historic moment for the Indian paralympians. It was the only medal for the day but a historic one, no doubt.
Setting a new benchmarkAfter achieving the target of 25 medals, India set out to add as many more medals as possible with few events left in the competition.
High jumper Praveen Kumar won India's sixth gold in Paris, with the men's T64 final victory. Havaldar Hokato Hotozhe Sema added a medal for India with a bronze in men’s shot put - F57.
Navdeep Singh and Simran then won a gold and a bronze respectively on Saturday, the penultimate day of the Paralympics to swell India's medal count to 29. Navdeep won the top prize in men's javelin throw - F41 and Simran finished third in women's 200m - T12.
With another gold and a bronze on the 10th day of the competition, India wrapped up their campaign with seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze - a total of unprecedented 29 medals.
Paris Paralympics: Navdeep's gold, Simran's bronze take India's medal tally to 29
India's Full List of Medal Winners at Paris Paralympics
Paris Paralympics Indian gold medal winners:- 1. Avani Lekhara - Women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 - Gold
- 2. Nitesh Kumar - Men's singles SL3 (Badminton) - Gold
- 3. Sumit Antil - Javelin throw F64 (Athletics) - Gold
- 4. Harvinder Singh - Men's Individual Recurve Open (Archery) - Gold
- 5. Dharambir - Men's Club Throw - F51 (Athletics) - Gold
- 6. Praveen Kumar - Men's high jump T64 - Gold
- 7. Navdeep Singh - Men's javelin throw F41 - Gold
Paris Paralympics Indian silver medal winners:- 1. Manish Narwal - Men's 10m air pistol SH1 (Shooting) - Silver
- 2. Nishad Kumar - Men's high jump T47 (Athletics) - Silver
- 3. Yogesh Kathuniya - Men's discus throw F56 (Athletics) - Silver
- 4. Thulasimathi Murugesan - Women's singles SU5 (Badminton) - Silver
- 5. Suhas Yathiraj - Men's singles SL4 (Badminton) - Silver
- 6. Sharad Kumar - Men's high jump T6 final - Silver
- 7. Ajeet Singh - Men's javelin throw F46 event - Silver
- 8. Sachin Sarjerao Khilari - Men's shot put F46 - Silver
- 9. Pranav Soorma - Men's Club Throw - F51 (Athletics)- Silver
Paris Paralympics Indian bronze medal winners:- 1. Mona Agarwal - Women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 (Shooting) - Bronze
- 2. Preethi Pal - Women's 100m T35 (Athletics) - Bronze
- 3. Preethi Pal - Women's 200m T35 (Athletics) - Bronze
- 4. Rubina Francis - Women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 (Shooting) - Bronze
- 5. Manisha Ramadass - Women's singles SUS (Badminton) - Bronze
- 6. Rakesh Kumar / Sheetal Devi - Mixed team compound open (Athletics) - Bronze
- 7. Nithya Sre Sivan - Women's singles SH6 (Badminton) - Bronze
- 8. Mariyappan Thangavelu - Men's high jump T6 final - Bronze
- 9. Deepthi Jeevanji - Women's 400m T20 final - Bronze
- 10. Sundar Singh Gurjar - Men's javelin throw F46 event - Bronze
- 11. Kapil Parmar - Men's Judo - 60kg J1 - Bronze
- 12. Hokato Hotozhe Sema - Men's shot put F57 - Bronze
- 13. Simran - Women's 200m T12 - Bronze