India’s Paralympic campaign at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is just nothing short of amazing, with a medal count in the double digits — a first for India, not just at the Paralympics but also at the Olympics. The 30th of August will go down in sports history as the day when India won five medals in a single day, including two golds, two silvers, and one bronze.
Even though Vinod Kumar finished second in the Discus throw, he was later ruled ineligible in classification evaluation after a complaint was filed against him. The setback did not last long, however, as javelin throwers put down the gauntlet by winning three medals – the whole set – in a single day, whilst Yogesh Kathuniya added extra silver in the men’s discus. Two further medals were added to India’s count on September 5, the final day of the Tokyo Paralympics, bringing the total to 19, the exact number of athletes who had represented India in the previous Paralympic Games in Rio.
There were other firsts to rejoice over, and the joy lingered throughout the Games.
Avani Lekhara and Singhraj Adana, both shooters, were placed on the podium twice, establishing their own records in their first Paralympics.
Harvinder Singh (bronze) won the first medal in archery after receiving incorrect dengue treatment, Bhavinben Patel (silver) won the first medal in table tennis, and short-statured Nagar and polio-stricken Pramod Bhagat won a stunning two gold medals in badminton. With Manish Narwal, 19, already a world champion and now a Paralympic champion, another shooting star appeared on the horizon.
Not to mention the legends, such as Devendra Jhajharia (javelin throw) and Mariyappan Thangavelu (kneeling) (high jump).
The two long-time flag-bearers of Indian para-sports, who won the gold medals in 2016 Rio, returned to the podium with silver medals this time, sealing their position among India’s all-time superstars.
