India’s Paralympic journey in Paris 2024 is a testament to the nation's growing commitment to inclusivity in sports. With a historic 84 athletes, the Indian contingent is not only its largest ever but also its most diverse, spanning 12 different sports. The athletes’ participation in new events such as para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo signifies a strategic expansion aimed at maximizing medal prospects.
The Indian team includes a mix of seasoned Paralympians and first-time participants. Avani Lekhara, who made history in Tokyo 2020 by winning India’s first gold in shooting, returns to the games, ready to defend her title in the women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event. Sumit Antil, the world record holder and Tokyo gold medalist in men’s F64 javelin throw, is another athlete to watch as he aims to extend his dominance in the sport.
In para archery, Harvinder Singh, who clinched India’s first archery medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo, will compete in the men’s individual recurve open and mixed team recurve open categories. He will be joined by compatriots like Rakesh Kumar and Shyam Sundar Swami, both competing in the men’s individual compound open and mixed team compound open categories. Female archers Pooja and Sarita will also vie for top honors in the women’s individual recurve and compound open events.
The athletics team is particularly strong, with multiple medal hopefuls. Sumit Antil and Sandeep, both competing in the men’s F64 javelin throw, are expected to perform well, alongside other javelin throwers like Ajeet Singh, Rinku, and Navdeep in various categories. The team also includes high jumpers like Nishad Kumar, Mariyappan Thangavelu, and Sharad Kumar, who have previously excelled in international competitions.
In para badminton, India has fielded a robust lineup, including Manoj Sarkar, Nitesh Kumar, and Krishna Nagar, all of whom have shown exceptional talent in their categories. Manasi Joshi and Palak Kohli lead the charge in women’s singles, while the mixed doubles pairings are also expected to be strong contenders.
The inclusion of para cycling and para rowing marks a significant step forward for India. Arshad Shaik and Jyoti Gaderiya will represent India in para cycling, competing in events ranging from track time trials to road races. Anita and K. Narayana will debut in para rowing, competing in the PR3 mixed double sculls.
In para shooting, Avani Lekhara is joined by a formidable squad including Manish Narwal, Rubina Francis, and Mahavir Unhalkar, each competing in various shooting events. These athletes are expected to bring home medals, continuing India’s strong tradition in shooting sports.
Other sports where India will compete include para powerlifting, with athletes like Parmjeet Kumar and Sakina Khatun, and para table tennis, where Bhavinaben Patel and Sonalben Patel will seek to replicate their Tokyo 2020 success. Para swimming also features prominently, with Suyash Jadhav leading the charge in the men's 50m butterfly S7 category.
The full list of Indian athletes qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympics is as follows:
1. Harvinder Singh - Para Archery: Men’s individual recurve open, Mixed team recurve open (ST)
2. Rakesh Kumar - Para Archery: Men’s individual compound open, Mixed team compound open (W2)
3. Shyam Sundar Swami - Para Archery: Men’s individual compound open, Mixed team compound open 4. Pooja - Para Archery: Women’s individual recurve open, Mixed team recurve open
5. Sarita - Para Archery: Women’s individual compound open, Mixed team compound open (W2)
6. Sheetal Devi - Para Archery: Women’s individual compound open, Mixed team compound open (ST)
7. Deepthi Jeevanji - Para Athletics: Women’s 400m (T20)
8. Sumit Antil - Para Athletics: Men's javelin throw (F64)
9. Sandeep - Para Athletics: Men's javelin throw (F64)
10. Ajeet Singh - Para Athletics: Men's javelin throw (F46)
11. Rinku - Para Athletics: Men's javelin throw (F46)
12. Navdeep - Para Athletics: Men's javelin throw (F41)
13. Yogesh Kathuniya - Para Athletics: Men's discus throw (F56)
14. Dharambir - Para Athletics: Men’s club throw (F51)
15. Nishad Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s high jump (T47)
16. Mariyappan Thangavelu - Para Athletics: Men’s high jump (T63)
17. Sachin Sarjerao Khilari - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F46)
18. Preethi Pal - Para Athletics: Women’s 100m, 200m (T35)
19. Bhagyashri Jadhav - Para Athletics: Women’s shot put (F34)
20. Manu - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F37)
21. Parveen Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s javelin throw (F57)
22. Ram Pal - Para Athletics: Men’s high jump (T47)
23. Ravi Rongali - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F40)
24. Sandip Sargar - Para Athletics: Men’s javelin throw (F64)
25. Sundar Singh Gurjar - Para Athletics: Men’s javelin throw (F46)
26. Shailesh Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s high jump (T63)
27. Sharad Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s high jump (T63)
28. Mohd. Yasser - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F46)
29. Rohit Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F46)
30. Pranav Soorma - Para Athletics: Men’s club throw (F51)
31. Amit Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s club throw (F51)
32. Arvind - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F35)
33. Dipesh Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s javelin throw (F54)
34. Praveen Kumar - Para Athletics: Men’s high jump (T64)
35. Dilip Gavit - Para Athletics: Men’s 400m (T47)
36. Soman Rana - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F57)
37. Hokato Sema - Para Athletics: Men’s shot put (F57)
38. Sakshi Kasana - Para Athletics: Women’s discus throw (F55)
39. Karam Jyoti - Para Athletics: Women’s discus throw (F55)
40. Rakshitha Raju - Para Athletics: Women’s 1500m (T11)
41. Amisha Rawat - Para Athletics: Women’s shot put (F46)
42. Bhavanaben Chaudhary - Para Athletics: Women’s javelin throw (F46)
43. Simran - Para Athletics: Women’s 100m, 200m (T12)
44. Kanchan Lakhani - Para Athletics: Women’s discus throw (F53)
45. Manoj Sarkar - Para Badminton: Men’s singles (SL3)
46. Nitesh Kumar - Para Badminton: Men’s singles, Mixed doubles (SL3)
47. Krishna Nagar - Para Badminton: Men’s singles (SH6)
48. Sivarajan Solaimalai - Para Badminton: Men’s singles, Mixed doubles (SH6)
49. Suhas Yathiraj - Para Badminton: Men’s singles, Mixed doubles (SL4)
50. Sukant Kadam - Para Badminton: Men’s singles (SL4)
51. Tarun - Para Badminton: Men’s singles (SL4)
52. Manasi Joshi - Para Badminton: Women’s singles (SL3)
53. Mandeep Kaur - Para Badminton: Women’s singles (SL3)
54. Palak Kohli - Para Badminton: Women’s singles, Mixed doubles (SL4)
55. Manisha Ramadass - Para Badminton: Women’s singles, Mixed doubles (SL4)
56. Jyoti Gaderiya - Para Cycling: Women’s C1-C5 time trial, road race
57. Arshad Shaik - Para Cycling: Men’s C1-C5 time trial, road race
58. K. Narayana - Para Rowing: PR3 mixed double sculls
59. Anita - Para Rowing: PR3 mixed double sculls
60. Avani Lekhara - Para Shooting: Women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1, R8 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, Mixed team R10 air rifle standing SH1
61. Manish Narwal - Para Shooting: Mixed team P6 10m air pistol SH1
62. Rubina Francis - Para Shooting: Mixed team P6 10m air pistol SH1
63. Mahavir Unhalkar - Para Shooting: Men’s R9 50m rifle prone SH2
64. Deependra Singh - Para Shooting: Men’s P1 10m air pistol SH1, P4 50m pistol SH1
65. Singhraj Adhana - Para Shooting: Men’s P1 10m air pistol SH1, P4 50m pistol SH1
66. Swaroop Mahavir Unhalkar - Para Shooting: Men’s R9 50m rifle prone SH2
67. Rakesh Kumar - Para Shooting: Men’s R9 50m rifle prone SH2
68. Ayesha Noor - Blind Judo: Women’s 48kg
69. Prakash Jay - Blind Judo: Men’s 60kg
70. Mohammad Asif - Blind Judo: Men’s 66kg
71. Bhavina Patel - Para Table Tennis: Women’s singles (Class 4)
72. Sonalben Patel - Para Table Tennis: Women’s singles (Class 3)
73. Parmjeet Kumar - Para Powerlifting: Men’s 49kg
74. Sachin Chaudhary - Para Powerlifting: Men’s 107kg
75. Sakina Khatun - Para Powerlifting: Women’s 50kg
76. Manpreet Kaur - Para Powerlifting: Women’s 41kg
77. Neeraj Yadav - Para Powerlifting: Men’s 65kg
78. Sudhir - Para Powerlifting: Men’s 87kg
79. Jaideep Deswal - Para Powerlifting: Men’s 97kg
80. Suyash Jadhav - Para Swimming: Men’s 50m butterfly (S7)
81. Shamili - Para Swimming: Women’s 100m backstroke, 100m freestyle (S9)
82. Anand Tiwari - Para Swimming: Men’s 100m backstroke (S7)
83. Virender Singh - Para Swimming: Men’s 50m freestyle (S6)
84. Gaurav Khanna - Para Swimming: Men’s 100m backstroke (S8)
India's participation across this wide range of sports is a reflection of the country’s comprehensive approach to developing talent in the para sports arena. This strategy has not only expanded the nation’s presence in established sports but also introduced new disciplines that offer additional opportunities for medals. The focus on high-performance training, backed by institutions like the Sports Authority of India and the Paralympic Committee of India, underscores the nation’s commitment to excelling at the Paralympics.
This cohort of athletes, who have overcome immense challenges to reach this stage, embodies the spirit of perseverance and excellence. As they prepare to compete on the global stage in Paris, they carry the hopes and aspirations of a nation eager to see them achieve greatness.
