Published By: Sayan Guha

Paris Paralympics 2024: Seven Golds, Countless Stories of Grit – Meet the Indian Athletes Who Turned Dreams into Reality

These seven golden performances at Paris 2024 are more than just numbers in a medal tally

Isn't there something unique about the way a medal shines? But there's always a story behind that medal—a journey filled with sweat, obstacles, and unshakeable hope. Moreover, India's golden champions at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris have backstories that extend beyond the podium.

India set a new record with 29 medals this year, including seven gold. These seven athletes have won championships and broken records, successfully defended crowns, and—most importantly—inspired a whole country.

Let's dive into the stories behind those victories.

Avani Lekhara: Defending her crown with precision

Imagine the strain of competing on the world's most significant stage and defending a championship earned three years earlier. Avani Lekhara performed just that in the Women's 10m Air Rifle SH1 competition. With a score of 249.7, she surpassed the 249.6 she recorded in Tokyo, breaking her personal Paralympic record with composure and solid hands. 

You'd think smashing records would come effortlessly to Avani by now, but her tenacity demonstrates that her desire for perfection never fades. Avani's path has been extraordinary, from becoming the first Indian woman to win a shooting medal in Tokyo to currently defending it.

Sumit Antil: The man who threw his way into history

In the F64 javelin throw, Sumit Antil did more than hold onto his title—he utterly dominated it. The guy broke the previous Paralympic record with a javelin throw of 70.59 meters. It's difficult enough to defend your championship once, but to do it with a throw that breaks records? That's a whole other story. 

Sumit is the first Indian athlete to successfully defend a Paralympic title and become a champion. No wonder javelin has become India's go-to sport, and Sumit has once again highlighted it.

Harvinder Singh: A golden arrow that changed everything

Which is more nerve-wracking—hitting a bullseye or realising that history is at stake? Harvinder Singh must have felt both when he pointed his bow in the Men's Individual Recurve Open final. 

Harvinder became the first Indian archer to win gold at the Paralympic Games after winning five straight games in one day. His triumph over Lukasz Ciszek of Poland was quite remarkable. It seemed as though the dreams of a whole country were behind every arrow he shot.

Nitesh Kumar: Badminton's new king

In the men's singles SL3 final, India's Nitesh Kumar is only one point away from gold with scores of 21-14, 18-21, and 23-21. With determination and a fantastic shuttle, Nitesh secured his first-ever Paralympic gold, even though it must have felt like a lifetime at that last moment.

Although Daniel Bethell of Great Britain was Nitesh's opponent, his tenacity proved decisive. Even though winning gold at 29 is the pinnacle of his career, there's no denying that the sky is the limit for him.

Dharambir: From foul to fantastic

Have you ever had a day where everything seems to be going wrong? Dharambir is likely familiar with the emotion. In the club throw F51 event, four efforts at fouling gave the impression that the gold may escape.

However, Dharambir won gold on his sixth throw, setting a new Asian mark with a 34.92-meter distance. How about a resurgence? It's a tale of perseverance, where you progress despite overwhelming odds. 

Praveen Kumar: Jumping to new heights

If you blinked, you could have missed Praveen Kumar's stunning leap in the T64 high jump final. He soared to a height of 2.08 meters, breaking the Asian record and winning gold. What makes it even more amazing? Praveen is only 21. 

This young guy has already reached unprecedented heights, practically and figuratively, leaving behind two formidable opponents from the United States and Uzbekistan. 

Navdeep Singh: A twist in the tale

Navdeep Singh is the last person mentioned. Any sports film would be pleased with his path to the gold in the men's javelin throw F41 event. With a throw of 47.32 meters, Navdeep initially took second place behind Sun Pengxiang. 

However, in an unexpected change of events, Navdeep advanced to gold after Iran's Beit Sadegh was disqualified for breaking the code of conduct. It's one of those unexpected turns of events, but it just makes his victory more wonderful.