### India Finishes Paris 2024 Paralympics With Record 29 Medals, Surpassing Tokyo Feat

**Paris, September 9, 2024** — India achieved its best-ever performance at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, securing a total of 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze, shattering the previous record of 19 medals set at Tokyo 2020. The Indian contingent’s remarkable success catapulted the nation to 18th place in the overall medal standings, marking a new milestone in the country’s Paralympic history.

One of the biggest stars of the Games was **Avani Lekhara**, who successfully defended her gold medal in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. Her world-record performance made her the first Indian woman to claim two Paralympic golds across consecutive Games. **Sumit Antil**, another standout, also defended his title in javelin, setting a new Paralympic record with a throw of 70.59m.

India also witnessed a historic one-two finish in athletics, with **Dharambir** winning gold and **Pranav Soorma** clinching silver in the men’s club throw F51 event. Dharambir’s 34.92m throw established a new Asian record, reinforcing India’s prowess in field events.

In a symbolic moment for the Games, 17-year-old **Sheetal Devi** became India’s youngest Paralympic medallist, earning bronze in the archery mixed team event. Meanwhile, **Harvinder Singh** made history by becoming India’s first-ever Paralympic champion in archery.

### India’s Surge in Para-Sports Reflects a Promising Future

India’s achievements in Paris weren’t limited to field and archery. The country’s para-athletes excelled across 12 disciplines, competing in new sports like para-cycling, blind judo, and para-rowing for the first time. **Preethi Pal**, in a landmark achievement, secured India’s first track event medal with bronze in the women’s 100m T35 and went on to earn another bronze in the 200m event, making her the most successful Indian athlete at these Games.

India’s shooting contingent also added to the medal tally, with **Mona Agarwal** earning bronze in the women’s 10m air rifle SH1 and **Manish Narwal** winning silver in the men’s 10m air pistol SH1. The performances across various sports indicated a significant improvement in India’s preparation and training for para-sports, hinting at even brighter prospects in the future.

### Contrast with Other Nations

While India celebrated its historic performance, neighboring **Pakistan** had a more subdued presence at the Games, with fewer athletes participating and minimal medal wins. **China**, on the other hand, continued its dominance at the Paralympics, finishing atop the medal tally with over 200 medals, reinforcing its status as a global powerhouse in para-sports.

With their sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games, India’s para-athletes have raised the bar for future performances, aiming to build on their remarkable success in Paris.

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