Why India paralympics performance improved: What happened in Paris Paralympics that Indian para athletes rocked the event? The performance of Indian athletes this time in the history of Paralympics is unbelievable. In London Paralympics 2012, 10 para athletes from India went and won a medal. This time i.e. in 2024, 84 para athletes participated in Paris Paralympics and The number of medals was also close to 30. India won 29 medals in Paris Paralympics 2024. Which included 7 gold, 9 silver and 13 bronze.
It can certainly be said that the number of Indian athletes has increased in the Paralympics. But it must also be said that our players showed a hunger to win medals in the Paralympics. What is the story behind winning so many medals, how has this improvement come about? We spoke to Deepa Malik about this. Deepa Malik is India’s first female Paralympic medalist. She has seen the Indian Paralympic journey very closely. Deepa Malik is also a member of the Asian Paralympic Committee. She was also elected President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) in 2020.
The number of medals won by Indian players in Paris Paralympics has never happened in the history of Paralympics. Deepa Malik looked very happy with this performance of Indian Paralympic players.
Deepa Malik said, ‘It is an honour for me that during her tenure, preparations for Tokyo Paralympics, Asian Para Games and Paris were done. For this, she thanks the players, coaches, Paralympic Committee of India, SAI (Sports Authority of India) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who remained connected with the lives of the players and supported them.’
Now know the reasons due to which India’s performance in Paralympic Games has improved. We understood some of the reasons for this from Deepa Malik.
Reason 1: Funding increased for the preparation of Paralympic players
How can India’s number of medals increase? On this, Deepa said – As para athletes, we always used to say that if we get opportunities, we will prove ourselves. The first thing is that sports are getting mainstream status. Now sports are getting mainstream funding. The Government of India allocated Rs 74 crore for the Paris Paralympics (2021-2024), which was Rs 26 crore more than the Tokyo Paralympics cycle. In such a situation, it is clear that funding has increased in the Paralympics.
Reason 2: More attention was given to the Paralympics
Deepa said that in the last few years, a policy has been made for Paralympics, in which players are being funded according to their preparation under the ‘Target Olympic Podium’. Players are preparing in a customized way according to their needs. One of the reasons for the increase in medals in Paralympics is that now many such programs have been prepared for the players at the grassroot level, due to which it has become very easy for them.
‘Excellence Program’, ‘Khelo India Para Games’ are examples of this. The Paralympic Federation (PCI) has also improved now. Deepa Malik herself admitted that earlier the federation was seen as an NGO, now Paralympics is considered a hardcore game. SAI (Sports Authority of India) centers have also been made accessible for para athletes.
Reason 3: Participation of female players increased
In Rio Paralympics 2016, when Deepa Malik won the silver medal in shot put, the number of women in Paralympic sports in India has increased continuously. In eight years, the number of medals won by Indian women para-athletes has increased increased from one to 11 (This number is constantly increasing). The special thing is that this time 10 women players have won medals. Avani Lekhara and Bhavina Patel have won medals in Tokyo. That means medals have increased due to the participation of women players. This is also a big reason.
Reason 4: Junior level tournaments increased, number of games also increased
There are many players in Paris Paralympics who have gone from Khelo India Para Games and Junior tournaments. Khelo India Para Games started last year. Many Indian players went to Asian Youth Para Games. National Junior and National Sub Junior tournaments have started again at the Para level. Due to which the pool of players came to Paralympics. Deepa Malik also said that China, America and Great Britain win more medals because they participate in more games. India participated in 5 games in Rio, 9 in Tokyo, while in Paris it participated in 12 games.
Reason 5: SAI appointed research officers
The reason for the increase in India’s medals in Paralympics is that now players are in the committee and association. Overall, players are now in administrative positions. The second special thing is that SAI (Sports Authority of India) has now appointed research officers. They analyze the players. If any player needs an artificial limb, then there is a fixed time limit for it. Javelin thrower Sumit Antil has three prosthetic legs, one of them is for walking, the second is for weightlifting, and the third is for javelin throw. This is the reason why he is continuously winning a lot of medals.
Reason 6: Explain the rules to the players in the local language
India’s Paralympic program has benefited from increased investment in sports medicine, training techniques and experienced coaching – which has helped para-athletes maximize their potential. The rules of NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency) have been translated into Hindi and distributed to the players in simple language, so that the players know which things are prohibited. During Tokyo, its course capsule was made, which was explained in simple language. Para athletes have been connected with information technology, they have been explained data analysis. The players have benefited from this, now para athletes are preparing themselves on the basis of international standards.
Reason 7: Players got support staff
Earlier, any para athlete used to prepare at home. Now the player has a nutritionist, now there is the facility that there are people who explain the rules of anti-doping to the players. If a player goes to an international tournament, then there are trained professionals (doctors, physiotherapists).
Reason 8: Better coordination between SAI and PCI
Deepa Malik said- There is a constant dialogue between SAI (Sports Authority of India) and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) now, what kind of help is required by a player. From secretaries to ministers, everyone seems to be more involved in this than before. Now the Prime Minister himself keeps an eye on it.
When Deepa Malik won a medal in shot put in 2016 at the age of 46, her victory was called magic because she used to play javelin earlier. Deepa won a medal in another sport after a year of preparation. Deepa said that in fact, she had received facilities like conditioning coach, nursing assistant, mental trainer, injury management, training at a place of choice, transportation and accommodation. Now PCI has matured. Now a proper chart of the player is made, data analysis and his game is followed, PCI also takes care of when the player should be trained.
Reason 8: Emphasis on medical classification…
Medical classification is important for any para athlete. Because only after this the athlete has a license to play. Then the player’s record is uploaded on the international website. Only after this it is decided in which category the player will play. There is a medical grouping. Deepa said that in the last five years players are being classified and qualified. There is a quota of players from IPC (International Paralympic Committee),
Reason 9: India’s influence at the international level
India organized the most successful World Cup of Para Shooting in 2024. 44 countries participated in it. Many players underwent medical classification here. The World Shooting Para Sport Association praised this tournament held at Karni Singh Stadium in Delhi. India organized education programs, in which 11 countries also participated. This means that it is clear that India is now counted among those countries where attention is being paid to para sports, the world is acknowledging its strength.
Reason 10: Proud Paralympian Program
The reason for improvement in Paralympics is ‘Train the Trainer’, ‘Proud Paralympian Program’. In this, players go and guide other players who are getting ready. They are told how to behave. New players are also getting experience due to Proud Paralympian Program.
Reason 11: Shower of prizes on players
Paralympic players have become financially strong, while they have been awarded with big sports awards. Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (formerly Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna) and Arjun Award have also been awarded many times. First Devendra Jhajharia was awarded Khel Ratna. After this many players were included in this list.
Now there are many para athletes who have won Arjuna Award. Many para athletes have jobs, so they have become the means of livelihood for their families. Being financially strong has also sent a pleasant signal to para athletes. Because in many places they are getting money after winning jobs and medals.
India’s medallists at Paris Paralympics 2024
1. Avani Lekhara (Shooting)- Gold Medal, Women’s 10m Air Rifle (SH1)
2. Mona Agarwal (Shooting)- Bronze Medal, Women’s 10m Air Rifle (SH1)
3. Preeti Pal (Athletics)- Bronze Medal, Women’s 100m Race (T35)
4. Manish Narwal (Shooting)- Silver Medal, Men’s 10m Air Pistol (SH1)
5. Rubina Francis (Shooting)- Bronze Medal, Women’s 10m Air Pistol (SH1)
6. Preeti Pal (Athletics)- Bronze Medal, Women’s 200m Race (T35)
7. Nishad Kumar (Athletics)- Silver Medal, Men’s High Jump (T47)
8. Yogesh Kathuniya (Athletics)- Silver Medal, Men’s Discus Throw (F56)
9. Nitesh Kumar (Badminton)- Gold Medal, Men’s Singles (SL3)
10. Manisha Ramdas (Badminton)- Bronze Medal, Women’s Singles (SU5)
11. Thulasimathi Murugesan (Badminton)- Silver Medal, Women’s Singles (SU5)
12. Suhas L Yathiraj (Badminton)- Silver Medal, Men’s Singles (SL4)
13. Sheetal Devi-Rakesh Kumar (Archery)- Bronze Medal, Mixed Compound Open
14. Sumit Antil (Athletics) – Gold Medal, Men’s Javelin Throw (F 64 Category)
15. Nitya Sri Sivan (Badminton)- Bronze Medal, Women’s Singles (SH6)
16. Deepti Jeevanjee (Athletics)- Bronze Medal, Women’s 400m (T20)
17. Mariyappan Thangavelu (Athletics)- Bronze Medal, Men’s High Jump (T63)
18. Sharad Kumar (Athletics) – Silver Medal, Men’s High Jump (T63)
19. Ajit Singh (Athletics) – Silver Medal, Men’s Javelin Throw (F46)
20. Sundar Singh Gurjar (Athletics) – Bronze Medal, Men’s Javelin Throw (F46)
21. Sachin Sarjerao Khilari (Athletics) – Silver Medal, Men’s Shot Put (F46)
22. Harvinder Singh (Archery)- Gold Medal, Men’s Individual Recurve Open
23. Dharambir (Athletics)- Gold Medal, Men’s Club Throw (F51)
24. Pranav Surma (Athletics)- Silver Medal, Men’s Club Throw (F51)
25. Kapil Parmar (Judo) – Bronze Medal, Men’s 60kg (J1)
26. Praveen Kumar (Athletics)- Gold Medal, Men’s High Jump (T44)
27. Hokato Hotoze Sema (Athletics) – Bronze Medal, Men’s Shot Put (F57)
28. Simran Sharma (Athletics)- Bronze Medal, Women’s 200m (T12)
29. Navdeep Singh (Athletics) – Gold Medal, Men’s Javelin Throw (F41)
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