India’s performance at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics shattered previous records by reaching a new high in medal count.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics marked a historic chapter for Indian athletes, who set numerous records and achieved their best-ever performance at the Summer Paralympics. With a contingent of 54 athletes, India brought home 19 medals — five gold, eight silver, and six bronze — making it their most successful Paralympic Games to date. Here’s a detailed look at the records set by Indian athletes in Tokyo:
India’s performance at Tokyo 2020 shattered previous records by reaching a new high in medal count. With 19 medals, this was the largest haul India had ever achieved in a single edition of the Paralympics. This surpassed the previous record of 12 medals won across 10 editions of the Games. Tokyo 2020 not only set a new benchmark but also positioned India 24th on the medal tally out of 162 nations, based on gold medals. If the rankings were based on total medals won, India would have ranked 20th.
Devendra Jhajharia added another milestone to his illustrious career by equalling Joginder Singh Bedi’s record of three Paralympic medals. Jhajharia secured a silver in the men’s javelin F46 event at Tokyo 2020, complementing his gold medals from Athens 2004 and Rio 2016. This achievement ties him with Bedi, who won three medals at the 1984 Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville, making them India’s most decorated Paralympic athletes.
Avani Lekhara made history as the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. She clinched gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event and also earned a bronze in the women’s 50m air rifle SH1 event. Lekhara’s gold medal in the 10m air rifle not only made her the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold but also established her as the first female athlete from India to win two medals in a single Paralympic Games.
In archery, Harvinder Singh achieved a significant milestone by winning India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in the sport. Singh claimed bronze in the men’s individual recurve-open event. Although he lost to the eventual gold medallist Kevin Mather in the semi-finals, Singh secured his place in history by defeating South Korea’s Kim Min Su in a dramatic bronze medal match.
Bhavina Patel became the first Indian table tennis player to win a Paralympic medal. Competing in her debut Paralympics, Patel won silver in the women’s singles Class 4. She upset several top players, including the reigning champion Borislava Peric, but ultimately lost to world №1 Zhou Ying of PRC in the final. Patel’s performance marked India’s first medal at Tokyo 2020.
Sumit Antil set a new world and Paralympic record in the men’s javelin F64 category. He threw a distance of 68.55m, surpassing his own previous world record of 62.88m set at the 2019 Para Athletics World Championships in Dubai. Antil’s achievement secured him the gold medal and established a new benchmark in the event.
Shooter Manish Narwal set a new Paralympic record in the P4 mixed 50m pistol SH1 event with a score of 218.2 points in the final. Although the world record in this category, held by Narwal himself, stands at 229.1, his performance in Tokyo was a significant achievement in the Paralympic context.
Nishad Kumar equalled his own Asian record in the men’s high jump T47 category with a jump of 2.06m, securing a silver medal. His performance matched the personal best he set earlier at the 2021 World Para Athletics FAZZA Grand Prix in Dubai.
Praveen Kumar set a new Asian record in the men’s high jump T64 with a leap of 2.07m, winning silver. He surpassed his own previous Asian record of 2.05m, which he had set at the 2021 World Para Athletics FAZZA Grand Prix in Dubai.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics not only showcased the remarkable skills and achievements of Indian athletes but also highlighted their ability to set new records and raise the bar in Paralympic sports.
