The Indian contingent finished their 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan with 17 medals. India was placed sixth in the overall medal tally. The Indian team won a total of six gold medals, five silver medals, and six bronze medals to register their best-ever performance at the World Para Athletics Championships. The previous record for India stood at 10 medals, which included three gold medals, at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. China finished as the most successful country in the competition this year with a total of 87 medals.
Some Incredible Victories by Indian Para Athletes are described below:
Indian Para Athlete Smashes World Record
Twenty-year-old Deepthi Jeevanji from Telangana, has created history at the World Para Athletics Championships. With a time of 55.07 seconds, she won gold in the women’s 400m T20 event, smashing the previous record. She has also qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
The T20 category is meant for athletes with intellectual impairment.
Sprinter Simran Sharma Wins Gold
Simran Sharma won the gold medal in women’s 200m T12 event with a personal best time of 24.95 seconds on the final day of competitions. Her remarkable performance saw her improve her previous best of 25.16 seconds to win the gold.
The T12 category is meant for athletes who have vision impairment.
Spectacular Performance by Mariyappan Thangavelu
Two-time Paralympics medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu won his maiden gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships by leaping 1.88m in the men’s T63 high jump event. The mark also helped him breach the championships record, which was held by Sharad Kumar at 1.83m.
The T63 category is meant for athletes with a leg amputation, who compete with prosthetics in a standing position.
India’s other gold medal winners were Sumit Antil (Men’s Javelin Throw F64), Sachin Khilari (Men’s Shot Put F46), and Ekta Bhyana (Women’s Club Throw F51)
