The Paralympic Games are just days away, and the buzz is palpable as some of the world’s top athletes head to Paris for this renowned event. Following the conclusion of the Olympics 2024, Paris will once again become a hub of sporting excellence, hosting the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
India’s Largest Contingent Ever
India is sending its largest-ever delegation to the Paralympics, with 84 para-athletes prepared to compete across 12 sports in the French capital. Notably, three of these sporting disciplines are new to the Indian team, adding an extra layer of excitement.
Back in the last Paralympics, India sent 54 athletes and managed to secure a record-breaking 19 medals—5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze. The defending champions, including Sumit Antil (para-athletics), Avani Lekhara (para-shooting), Krishna Nagar (para-badminton), and Manish Narwal (para-shooting), will be looking to retain their titles in Paris.
Let’s break down the athletes and events you should be following closely.
Indian Athletes in Action on August 29, Thursday
– From 12:00 PM IST, Indian badminton players will kick off in different events.
– Aruna will be competing in Taekwondo, K44 – 47kg (W), at 1:30 PM IST.
– Jyoti Gaderia will participate in the cycling event, C-1 3000m pursuit (W), qualification at 4:25 PM IST. Medal matches will also be held on the same day.
– Archers Sarita, Sheetal Devi, Harvinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar, and Shyam Swami will be in action.
Indian Athletes in Action on August 30, Friday
– Shooters Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal will start their R2 10m rifle event at 12:30 PM IST.
– Manish Narwal and Rudransh Khandelwal will compete in P1 – 10m pistol SH1 at 2:45 PM IST.
– Sriharsha Ramakrishna will take part in the R4 mixed 10m air rifle standing event at 5:00 PM IST.
– Sakshi Kasana and Karam Jyoti aim for a medal in the discus F55 final at 1:30 PM IST.
– Manu will be competing in the shot put F37 final at 12:20 AM IST.
– Arshad Shaikh will participate in the C-2 3000m pursuit in cycling.
– Indian badminton players will continue their group stage matches.
– Archery knockout rounds feature Sarita, Sheetal Devi, Rakesh Kumar, and Shyam Swami.
– Rowers Anita and Narayana K will compete in the PR 3 mixed doubles sculls.
Indian Athletes in Action on August 31, Saturday
– Shooter Mahavir Unhalkar will be in the 10m rifle standing SH1 qualification at 1:00 PM IST.
– Arshad Shaikh will compete in the C1-3 1000m time trials in cycling, with qualifications at 1:49 PM IST and finals later in the day.
– Table tennis stars Bhavinaben Patel and Sonalben Patel will play in the Women’s doubles WD10 semifinal at 1:30 PM IST, with a potential final later in the day.
– Rubina Francis will compete in the P2 10m pistol SH1 qualification at 3:30 PM IST, finals also on the same day.
– Archers Sheetal Devi, and Sarita will compete in the compound open, starting from the pre-quarterfinals at 7:00 PM IST.
– Javelin thrower Parveen Kumar aims for the F57 final at 10:30 PM IST.
– Badminton players face a busy schedule with SL3-SU6 semifinals at 7:30 PM IST.
– Group stage and select quarterfinals in badminton to continue.
– Anita and Narayana K will compete at 2:40 PM IST in rowing.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 1, Sunday
– Shooters Avani Lekhara and Sidhartha Babu will participate in R3 – Mixed 10m rifle prone SH1, qualifications at 1:00 PM IST.
– Ravi Rangoli will aim for a medal in the Shot put F40 final at 3:09 PM IST.
– Archers Rakesh Kumar and Shyam Swami will compete in the compound open.
– High jumpers Nishad Kumar and Ram Pal will participate in the high jump F47 final at 10:58 PM IST.
– Preethi Pal will compete in the 200m T35 final at 11:08 PM IST.
– Expect plenty of action in badminton with potential semifinals.
– Rakshita Raju will compete in 1500m T11 round 1 in athletics.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 2, Monday
– Badminton finals could feature Manoj Sarkar, Nitesh Kumar, Palak Kohli, and more.
– Shooters Amir Ahmad Bhat and Nihal Singh to participate in P3 mixed 25m pistol.
– Yogesh Kathuniya will aim for the discus throw final F56.
– Rakshita Raju will compete in the 1500m – T11 final in athletics.
– Archers Rakesh Kumar, Sheetal Devi/Shyam Swami, and Sarita in compound open mixed team.
– Sumit Antil will defend his title in javelin F64 final at 10:30 PM IST.
– Kanchan Lakhani will participate in the discus throw final F53.
– Deepthi Jeevanji will compete in the 400m T20 – round 1 in athletics.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 3, Tuesday
– Archer Pooja will compete in individual recurve open, including knockouts and medal events.
– Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal in R8 – 50m rifle 3P SH1.
– Bhagyashri Jadhav in Shot put F34 final.
– Deepthi Jeevanji in 400m T20 final.
– Indian high jumpers Mariyappan Thangavelu, Shailesh Kumar, and Sharad Kumar in T63 final.
– Javelin throwers Ajeet Singh, Rinku, and Sundar Singh Gurjar in F46 final at 12:10 AM IST.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 4, Wednesday
– Arshad Shaikh and Jyoti Gaderia in individual time trials in cycling.
– Archer Harvinder Singh in individual recurve open, medal matches later.
– Shooter Nihal Singh, Rudransh Khandelwal in P4 mixed 50m pistol, qualification and final.
– Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Mohd Yasser, and Rohit Kumar in Shot put F46 final at 1:35 PM IST.
– Amisha Rawat in Shot put F46 final.
– Powerlifters Parmjeet Kumar and Sakina Khatun in finals.
– Dharambir, Pranav Soorma, and Amit Kumar in club throw F51 final.
– Simran will compete in the 100m T12 round 1 in athletics.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 5, Friday
– Shooters Mona Agarwal and Sidhartha Babu in R6 mixed 50m rifle prone SH1, qualifications at 1:00 PM IST.
– Mixed archery team of Harvinder Singh and Pooja in recurve open, with medal matches on the same day.
– Judo athletes Kokila and Kapil Parmar in their respective categories.
– Powerlifter Ashok in up to 65kg final.
– Arvind in shot put F35 final at 11:49 PM IST.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 6, Saturday
– Sonalben Patel in WS3 singles.
– In athletics, Dipesh Kumar, Dilip Gavit, Praveen Kumar, Soman Rana, Hokato Sema, and Bhavanaben Chaudhary will be in action.
– Powerlifter Kasthuri Rajamani in up to 67kg final at 8:30 PM IST.
– Canoe athletes Yash Kumar, Prachi Yadav, and Pooja Ojha in action.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 7, Sunday
– Cyclists Jyoti Gaderia and Arshad Shaikh.
– Swimmer Suyash Jadhav in 50m Butterfly S-7.
– Bhavinaben Patel in WS4 singles.
– Canoe athletes Yash Kumar and Prachi Yadav.
– In athletics, Navdeep in javelin throw F41 final, Simran in 200m T12 final, and Dilip Gavit in 400m T47 final.
Indian Athletes in Action on September 8, Monday
– Pooja Ojha will compete in Kayak single 200m – KL1.
Stay tuned for more updates as our talented athletes aim to make the nation proud in Paris!
