The Paralympics and India
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Contents |
The medal winners
Murlikant Petkar (Gold) 1972 Heidelberg Paralympics
Petkar clinched the gold in the men's 50m freestyle swimming event, clocking a world record time of 37.33 seconds. Originally a boxer in the Indian Army, Patekar switched to swimming and other sports after losing his arm in the 1965 Indo-Pak war. He was India's first-ever individual gold medallist at the Paralympics.
Joginder Singh Bedi (1 Silver, 2 Bronze)
1984, New York (US), Stoke Mandeville (UK) Paralympics
Bedi won the silver medal in the shot put event while bagging a bronze each in discus and javelin throw events. He holds the record of being the Indian with the most Paralympic medals.
Bhimrao Kesarkar (Silver)
1984, New York (US), Stoke Mandeville (UK) Paralympics
Kesarkar clinched the silver medal in the men's javelin throw event. He finished ahead of compatriot Joginder Singh Bedi, who claimed the bronze medal in the same event.
Devendra Jhajharia (Gold) 2004, Athens Paralympics
Jhajharia ended India's 20 year wait for a Paralympic medal by clinching the gold in the men's javelin throw at the Athens Games. With his throw of 62.15m in Athens, Jhajharia set a new world mark, a record that he would rewrite 12 years later.
Rajinder Singh Rahelu (Bronze) 2004, Athens Paralympics
The second Indian medallist at the Athens Games, Rahelu, competed in the 56kg men's powerlifting event. He bagged the bronze with an effort of 157.5kg. Born in Mehsampur village, Jalandhar district, Punjab, Rahelu contracted polio when he was eight months old.
Girisha Nagarajegowda (Silver) 2012, London Paralympics
The lone Indian medallist in the London edition of the Games, Nagarajegowda grabbed the silver in the men's high jump with a jump of 1.74 m. Nagarajegowda, who has an impairment in his left leg, became the first Indian to win a medal in a high-jump event.
Devendra Jhajharia (Gold)
2016, Rio Paralympics
Jhajharia etched his name in history books when he sent the spear to a distance of 63.97 metres in the men's javelin throw event in Rio, becoming the first Indian to clinch two gold medals at the Paralympics. Jhajharia also bettered his world record that he had set 12 years earlier at the Athens Games.
Mariyappan Thangavelu (Gold) 2016, Rio Paralympics
Thangavelu bagged the gold in the high-jump event at the Rio Games by clearing 1.89m. He is one of only three gold medal-winning Paralympians in the country. At the age of 5, Thangavelu suffered a permanent disability when a bus crushed his right leg below the knee.
Deepa Malik (Silver) 2016, Rio Paralympics
Malik became the first woman from India to win a Paralympic medal when she won the silver in the shot put event in Rio with a best throw of 4.61m. A paraplegic, Malik was consigned to the wheelchair after being operated for a spinal tumour.
Varun Singh Bhati (Bronze) 2016, Rio Paralympics
Bhati clinched the bronze medal in high jump, accompanying compatriot Mariyappan Thangavelu, who won the gold, on the podium. Afflicted by poliomyelitis at a young age, Bhati had produced a personal best mark of 1.86 metres.
2021
The medal winners
Tokyo: Defending champion Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar won a silver and bronze respectively in the men's high jump T42 event as India's medal tally at the Paralympics touched an unprecedented 10.
Mariyappan cleared 1.86m while the American gold winner Sam Grewe succeeded in soaring above 1.88m in his third attempt. Kumar took the bronze with an effort of 1.83.
The third Indian in fray and 2016 Rio Paralympics bronze-winner, Varun Singh Bhati ended seventh out of nine competitors after he failed to clear the 1.77m mark.
The T42 classification is for athletes with a leg deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in the legs. The athletes compete in a standing position.
Earlier in the day, shooter Singhraj Adana fetched a bronze in the men's 10m air pistol SH1 event.
India have so far won two gold, five silver and three bronze medals. The 26-year-old Mariyappan was touted as a sure shot medal for India after rising to fame with his gold in the Rio Games five years ago.
The Tamil Nadu athlete suffered permanent disability in his right leg after it was crushed under a bus when he was only 5.
Raised by a single mother after his father abandoned the family, Mariyappan battled abject poverty growing up as his mother worked a labourer before becoming a vegetable seller. Kumar, who hails from Patna, Bihar, suffered a paralysis in his left leg as a two-year-old after being administered a spurious polio vaccine.
He is a two-time Asian Para Games gold-medallist.
A
Manish Kumar, Sep 5, 2021: The Times of India
NEW DELHI: From an Indian perspective, just like the Olympics, the current edition of the Paralympics in Tokyo will never be forgotten. India ended up winning 19 medals in all, including 5 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze, to mark its best ever outing at the Paralympic Games.
India's medal haul crossed the double-figure mark in a single edition of the Paralympics for the first time in history. Before this, the best showing for India at the Paralympic Games was a total haul of four medals, which was registered in two separate editions (1984 and 2016).
Here's a quick look at the Indian athletes who won medals at this edition of the Tokyo Paralympics:
Bhavinaben Patel (Table Tennis) - Silver
Table Tennis player Bhavinaben Patel opened India’s account at the Games when she became only the second Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics. Playing the gold medal match, Bhavina won the silver medal, after losing to Chinese paddler Ying Zhou 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 in the women’s singles table tennis class 4 final on August 29.
The 34-year-old Bhavina, who hails from Sundhiya village in Gujarat's Mehsana district, was diagnosed with polio when she was just 12 months old and competes in a wheelchair. She is coached by her husband Nikul Patel, who has also played junior cricket for Gujarat.
Nishad Kumar (High Jump) - Silver
Nishad Kumar won India’s second medal at Tokyo Paralympics when he clinched a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event with an Asian record effort of 2.06m on August 29.
T47 class is meant for athletes with a unilateral upper limb impairment resulting in some loss of function at the shoulder, elbow and wrist.
Hailing from Una in Himachal Pradesh, the 21-year-old Nishad had met with an accident at the age of eight that resulted in the loss of his right hand.
Avani Lekhara (Shooting) - Gold
Avani Lekhara made history on August 30 when she became the first Indian woman ever to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.
Avani fired her way to the top of the podium in the R-2 women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event, edging out 2016 Rio Games gold-medallist Cuiping Zhangh of China who clinched the silver medal.
Avani finished with a world record equalling total of 249.6, which is also a new Paralympic record.
Avani also became only the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold after swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016) and high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu (2016).
19-year-old Avani, who hails from Jaipur, had sustained spinal cord injuries in a car accident in 2012.
In the SH1 Rifle category, shooters are able to hold a gun with arms. The athletes have an impairment in their legs, for example amputations or paraplegia. Some athletes compete in a seated position, while others compete in a standing position.
Yogesh Kathuniya (Discus Throw) - Silver
Yogesh Kathuniya won the second medal for India on August 30 when he sent the disc to a best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver in F56 classification.
Son of an Army man, the 24-year-old Kathuniya is a B.Com graduate from New Delhi's Kirorimal College.
Kathuniya suffered a paralytic attack at the age of eight which left him with coordination impairments in his limbs.
In F56 classification, athletes have full arm and trunk muscle power. Pelvic stability is provided by some to full ability to press the knees together.
Devendra Jhajharia (Javelin Throw) - Silver
Two-time gold medal winning javelin throw veteran Devendra Jhajharia clinched his third Paralympic medal on August 30 when he pulled off a new personal best throw of 64.35m to clinch the silver in F46 classification.
Hailing from Churu district in Rajasthan, the 40-year-old Jhajharia had lost his left hand after accidentally touching a live electric wire while climbing a tree at the age of eight.
The F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms, with athletes competing in a standing position.
Sundar Singh Gurjar (Javelin Throw) - Bronze
It was double delight for India in the men's javelin throw F46 final on August 30, when Sundar Singh Gurjar chipped in with a bronze, finishing behind Jhajharia, with a best effort of 64.01m.
Hailing from Rajasthan's Karauli, 25-year-old Gurjar used to compete in the general category until 2015, but after he met with an accident while fixing a tin shade at his friend's house that led to amputation of the wrist of the left hand, Gurjar now competes in the F-46 javelin throw category.
Gurjar had made it to 2016 Rio Paralympics but was disqualified for reporting late at the call room before the event. The bronze on August 30 was nothing short of redemption for him.
Sumit Antil (Javelin Throw) - Gold
Sumit Antil shattered the men's F64 category world record multiple times in a stunning Games debut performance to clinch India's second gold medal on August 30.
Antil sent the spear to 68.55m in his fifth attempt, which was the best of the day by quite a distance and a new world record. Antil bettered the previous world record of 62.88m, also set by him, five times on the day. His last throw was a foul. His series read 66.95, 68.08, 65.27, 66.71, 68.55 and foul.
Antil was an able-bodied wrestler before losing his left leg below the knee after he was involved in a motorbike accident in 2015. The 23-year-old Antil, who hails from Sonepat in Haryana is a student of Delhi's Ramjas College.
The F64 category is for athletes with a leg amputation, who compete with prosthetics in a standing position.
Singhraj Adhana (Shooting) - Bronze
Singhraj Adhana won India's second medal in shooting when he won the bronze medal in the P1 men's 10m air pistol SH1 event on August 31.
Making his Games debut, Adhana shot a total of 216.8 to finish the event in third place after qualifying for the eight-man final as the sixth best shooter.
The 39-year-old shooter, hailing from Haryana's Bahadurgarh is afflicted with polio and took up the sport only four years ago. P1 is a classification for the men's 10 air pistol competition. Some shooters compete in a seated position, while others take aim in a standing position as defined in the rules.
Mariyappan Thangavelu (High Jump) - Silver
Defending champion Mariyappan Thangavelu cleared 1.86m to win a silver in the men's high jump T42 event on August 31.
The 26-year-old Mariyappan had won a gold in the Rio Games five years ago. With his silver medal in Tokyo, Mariyappan became the third Indian after Joginder Singh Bedi and Devendra Jhajharia to win multiple medals at the Paralympics.
Hailing from Tamil Nadu, Mariyappan had suffered permanent disability when he was five years old. He was on his way to school when a drunk driver at the wheel of a bus ran over his right leg, crushing his knee and leaving him with a permanent disability. Raised by a single mother after his father abandoned the family, Mariyappan battled abject poverty growing up as his mother worked as a labourer before becoming a vegetable seller.
The T42 classification is for athletes with a leg deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in the legs. The athletes compete in a standing position.
Sharad Kumar (High Jump) - Bronze
With a jump of 1.83m, Sharad Kumar won a bronze medal in the men's high jump T42 event on August 31.
Sharad, who hails from Patna, Bihar, attended Delhi's Modern School and Kirorimal College and took up high jump when he was in class 7 at the St Paul's School in Darjeeling.
Sharad is also a Sports Authority of India coach. He trained for three years in Ukraine from 2017 onwards to prepare for the Paralympics.
Sharad had suffered paralysis in his left leg as a two-year-old after being administered a spurious polio vaccine dose.
Praveen Kumar (High Jump) - Silver
Praveen Kumar made it a debut to remember and also broke the two-day medal drought for India by clinching the silver medal in the men's high jump T64 event on September 3. Not only that, the 18 year-old Praveen also set a new Asian record with a 2.07m jump.
Praveen, who hails from a village near Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district and is a B.A. second year student in Motilal Nehru College in Delhi, not only registered his personal best performance, but also became the youngest medal winner in the Indian contingent in Tokyo. Praveen's impairment, which is congenital, affects the bones that connect his hip to his left leg.
T64 classification is for athletes with a leg amputation, who compete with prosthetics in a standing position. T44, the disability classification that Praveen belongs to but is eligible to compete in T64, is for athletes with a leg deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in the legs.
Avani Lekhara (Shooting) - Bronze
Already the first Indian woman ever to win a gold medal at the Paralympics, Avani Lekhara went a notch higher when she became the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals.
The ace para-shooter claimed the 50m Rifle 3 Position SH1 bronze on September 3 to achieve the remarkable feat.
The 19-year-old, who had won the 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 gold on August 30, also became the second Indian athlete to claim multiple medals in the same edition of the Games.
Athletes in SH1 Rifle have an impairment in their legs, for example amputations or paraplegia. Some athletes compete in a seated position, while others compete in a standing position.
Harvinder Singh (Archery) - Bronze
Harvinder Singh beat Kim Min Su of Korea in a thrilling shoot-off for the men's individual recurve bronze to win India's first ever archery medal in the Paralympics on September 3.
Harvinder won the bronze playoff 6-5 (26-24, 27-29, 28-25, 25-25, 26-27) (10-8).
Harvinder, who hails from a small village Guhla Cheeka near Kaithal in Haryana is an economics scholar and is pursuing Ph.D. at the Punjabi University, Patiala.
Harvinder had dengue when he was just one-and-half years old and a local doctor administered him an injection that had an adverse effect and his legs stopped working properly.
The Open event combines W2 and ST classes, including athletes who have an impairment in the legs and use a wheelchair or have a balance impairment and shoot standing or resting on a stool.
In archery, the use of assistive equipment or an assistant is allowed depending on the impairment, while a variety of techniques may be employed, including pulling the bowstring with the mouth.
Manish Narwal (Shooting) - Gold
Manish Narwal won India's third gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics by shooting a total of 218.2 in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event on September 4.
Making his Games debut, the 19-year-old Narwal smashed the Paralympic record enroute the feat. He also holds the world record in the category.
Narwal, who hails from Ballabhgarh in Haryana, has an impairment in his right hand.
P4 is a classification for the mixed 50m air pistol competition. As the pistol is held with one hand only, athletes in SH1 category have an impairment affecting one arm and/or the legs, for example resulting from amputations or spinal cord injuries.
Singhraj Adhana (Shooting) - Silver
Singhraj Adhana made it a sensational one-two finish for India at the Tokyo Paralympics when he bagged the silver behind Manish Narwal's gold in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event on September 4. Adhana won the silver with an effort of 216.7 to add to his bronze medal that he had won in the P1 men's 10m Air Pistol SH1 event on August 31.
With this feat, the 39-year-old Adhana joins the elite list of Indians who have won multiple medals in the same edition of the Games. Adhana, who hails from Bahadurgarh in Haryana, competes with polio-impaired lower limbs.
Pramod Bhagat (Badminton) - Gold
Reigning world champion shuttler Pramod Bhagat claimed a historic gold medal in men's singles SL3 class at the Tokyo Paralympics. Bhagat beat Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in the summit clash, winning in straight games.
With badminton making its debut at the Paralympics this year, Bhagat, the current world No. 1, thus became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the sport.
The top seeded Indian, also an Asian champion, showed great mental fortitude as he prevailed 21-14, 21-17 over second seeded Bethell in a thrilling final that lasted 45 minutes at the Yoyogi National Stadium.
Bhagat, who had contracted polio when he was 4 years old, picked up the sport after watching his neighbours play. Initially, he competed against able-bodied players before getting into competitive para badminton in 2006.
He eventually emerged as one of the best para shuttlers in the country with 45 international medals under his belt, including four world championship gold medals and a gold and a bronze in 2018 Asian Para Games.
Manoj Sarkar (Badminton) - Bronze
Shuttler Manoj Sarkar bagged the bronze medal in men's singles SL3 class at the Tokyo Paralympics. Sarkar defeated Japan's Daisuke Fujihara in the third place play-off, winning in straight games.
The 31-year-old Sarkar, whose right leg was affected after he contracted polio at age one, displayed great resilience during his 22-20, 21-13 win over Fujihara.
In the semifinals, Sarkar couldn't get into any sort of rhythm against second seeded Great Britain's Daniel Bethell, going down 8-21, 10-21 in the men's singles SL3 class. But he recovered quickly from the defeat to produce a superb show to claim the bronze.
Sarkar had taken up badminton at age five but it was the passion to win against his elder brothers which led him to play the sport seriously. He played inter-school competition against able-bodied players till the 11th grade before starting to compete in para badminton in 2011.
Suhas Yathiraj (Badminton) - Silver
Suhas Yathiraj added a silver medal to India's medal tally having lost to No. 1 seed Lucas Mazur of France in the men's singles SL4 class final to help India's medal tally swell on the last day of the Tokyo Paralympics.
Suhas, who is an IAS officer and is appointed as a District Magistrate in Noida, has an impairment in one of his ankles.
He fought every inch in the three-game battle and fell agonisingly short in a scoreline of 21-15, 17-21, 15-21, as the two-time world champion brought his big-game experience to good effect in the end.
Krishna Nagar (Badminton) - Gold
Krishna Nagar made sure India didn't end up without another gold medal on the last day of the Paralympics, as he put up a thrilling show to beat Hong Kong's Man Kai Chu in three games in the men's singles SH6 class final.
The 22-year-old Rajasthan boy ended up victorious with a 21-17, 16-21, 21-17 scoreline. It ensured his unbeaten run in Tokyo. The other gold in India's badminton campaign was won by Pramod Bhagat.
This was India's fifth and final gold at the Games in Japan.
Highlights
29 Aug, Bhavina wins silver
Sabu Cherian, August 30, 2021: The Times of India
Bhavina wins silver, to focus on doubles now
Her fans back home waited with bated breath for a gold medal in table tennis at the Paralympics on Sunday. But, it was not Bhavina Patel’s day. Though the 34-year-old gave her all in the summit clash, she went down in straight sets to world No.1 Zhou Ying of China in the final, ending her singles campaign with a deserved silver medal.
Zhou won 7-11, 5-11, 6-11. She had also won gold in 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Paralympics. Zhou had also defeated Bhavina in their group stage match.
Bhavina, however, became only the second Indian female athlete to win a medal in the Paralympics after Deepa Malik, who bagged silver in shot put F43 in 2016.
Speaking to TOI from Tokyo after winning the silver, the para paddler said, “I gave 100% in the final. Though I could not win the gold, I am satisfied with my overall performance. That I have created history by winning a medal in table tennis at the Paralympics is in itself a huge achievement.”
About her opponent in the final, Bhavina said, “She had strong wheelchair movements, better ball control and was hitting the ball very well. Playing her was a good experience. I will prepare for future matches keeping this in mind,” she added.
The doubles event begins on August 31 and Bhavina will be partnering Sonal Patel, who lost in the group stage in the singles. “We will give our best and try to win another medal for India,” said Bhavina.
The Vadnagar-born athlete, who is now a resident of Ahmedabad, was determined to change the narrative in the final and she matched Zhou stroke for stroke from the word go. But Zhou, a seasoned campaigner on the big stage, broke away at 3-3 in the opening game and maintained the lead to pocket the first game and never relaxed her grip for the rest of the match. Sensing her opponent’s big match pressure, Zhou went for the kill, mixing her shots and exploiting the angles well. Bhavina’s coach Lallan Doshi noticed this.
Nishad Para wins silver
Biswajyoti Brahma, August 30, 2021: The Times of India
Asian record high jump wins Nishad Para silver
Indian athletes excelled at the Tokyo Paralympics with Nishad Kumar winning the high jump (T47) silver while Vinod Kumar finished third in men’s discus (F52) but was made to wait for his bronze confirmation following a protest, reports Biswajyoti Brahma.
Bhavinaben Patel settled for silver after losing 0-3 to world No. 1 Ying Zhou in the women’s singles class 4 TT final. It was a great day for Nishad, 21, son of a marginal farmer, who clinched silver with an Asian record of 2.06m.
30 August
Biswajyoti Brahma, August 31, 2021: The Times of India
From: August 31, 2021: The Times of India
See graphic:
India at the Tokyo Paralympics on Aug 30, 2021
It was a day of rare and delightful sporting highs for India at the Paralympic Games as the country won an unprecedented 5 medals - 2 gold, 2 silver and a bronze - in a single day in Tokyo. The winners also included the country’s first-ever Paralympic goldmedal winning woman athlete in shooter Avani Lekhara.
The day’s developments took India’s total medal tally to 7, their best ever at a Paralympic Games, raising hopes of ushering in a revolution for differently-abled athletes in a country where even ramps for the disabled are a rarity in public places.
At the Rio Games in 2016, India had won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, but increased government funding and a special focus on para athletes has paid off in spades this time around.
“I can’t describe this feeling. I am on top of the world,” said Avini, speaking for all of the medal winners. Avani started the day for India with a gold and javelin thrower Sumit Antil ended it with another, along with a world record.
India’s tally could have been higher but they lost a bronze after athlete Vinod Kumar, who had finished third in discus (F52) on Sunday, was found ineligible in disability classification assessment.
Avani equalled the world record while winning the gold in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1, while Antil bagged the top finish in men’s javelin (F64), beating his own world record by almost 6 metres.
Yogesh Kathuniya won one of the two silvers in men’s discus (F56) while the other was won by the indefatigable Devendra Jhajharia in men’s javelin (F46) event. In the same javelin event, Sundar Singh Gurjar claimed bronze. The 19-year-old Avani, who suffered spinal cord injuries following a car crash in 2012, showed what it takes for a shooter to finish on the podium at the Games by winning the gold quite convincingly.
After qualifying for the final as the 7th of the 8 shooters, she raised her game when it mattered most. She took the lead after the first round of five shots in the final and, barring for one round, maintained it. She finished with 249.6 points, ahead of Cuiping Zhang of China (248.9). Ukraine’s Iryna Shchetnik took the bronze. “I am very happy. I was just trying to focus on the process and was thinking just one shot at time. Everything went like I wanted,” Avani said.
Sumit started with a world record – 66.9m – before bettering it twice in the next four throws. His first one was followed by efforts of 68.08m, 65.27m, 66.71m and 68.55m, leaving no chance to his rivals. The earlier record – 62.88m – was also in his name which he had set in Dubai in 2019. Sadeep, another Indian in the fray, finished fourth with a best of 62.20. “This is my first Paralympics and I was a little nervous. I was hoping for a 70-metre-plus throw, maybe I can do 75m. It was not my best, but I am very happy to break the world record,” Sumit said.
Kathuniya had three fouls in his six attempts, but his last throw was 44.38m and it was good enough to push him to second position, behind Claudiney Batista of Brazil, who had 45.59, also in his last throw. An elated Yogesh, a post graduate, later said that he was hoping his medal will help him get a job. “I hope I can get a job now. That will be very nice,” the 24-year-old Kathuniya told TOI.
Jhajharia followed his Rio gold with a silver, with a personal best of 64.35m. But the effort was not enough to earn him his third Paralympics gold.
(With inputs from PTI)
31 August
From: Sep 1, 2021: The Times of India
See graphic:
India at the Tokyo Paralympics on 31 Aug, 2021
1 Sept
Sep 2, 2021: The Times of India
Palak-Pramod duo loses in three games
Tokyo: India’s mixed team of Palak Kohli and Pramod Bhagat lost to the French duo of Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel by 2-1 at Yoyogi National Stadium -- Court 3 in the doubles SL3-SU5.
The world No. 2 pair of Mazur and Noel edged the Indian duo in three sets by 21-9, 15-21, 21-19 in the Group Play Stage --Group B match. The match lasted for 43 minutes.
The French second seeds dominated the matchup from the word go as they raced into an 11-4 lead in the opening game. The Indian pair showed some resistance but it was futile as Lucas and Faustine comfortably took the opening set 21-9 in 11 minutes.
Swimmer Suyash disqualified in 100m
Suyash Narayan Jadhav was disqualified in the Men’s 100m breaststroke -- SB7 here at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in the ongoing Paralympic Games.
Jadhav’s timing in the event was not registered as he was disqualified. The Indian was disqualified based on the technical issue as he performed more than one fly kick after the turn, as per the official reason recorded. Colombia’s Carlos Zarate won the gold with a Paralympic record of 1:12.01.
Russian Paralympic Committee’s (ROC) Egor Efrosinin grabbed silver while Australia’s Blake Cochrane clinched bronze in the final.
Disappointing day for the shooters
Shooter Avani Lekhara, who became India’s first female gold medallist in Paralympic Games two days ago, failed to replicate her success as she crashed out in the qualification round of the mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 event.
The SH1 (Rifle) allows individuals with no impairment in the upper limbs but an impairment in either/ both the lower limbs to compete.
Lekhara was not at her usual best as she finished a disappointing 27th with a score of 629.7, crashing out in the third round.
Other Indian para shooters in the men’s event, Sidhartha Babu and Deepak Kumar finished 40th and 43rd respectively with scores of 625.5 and 624.9. ANI
2 Sept
Sep 3, 2021: The Times of India
India at the Tokyo Paralympics on 2 Sept 2021
Noida DM Suhas wins first round match in SL4 group
Tokyo: Noida District Magistrate and para-badminton player Suhas L Yathiraj on Thursday defeated Jan Niklas Pott of Germany 21-9, 21-3 in men’s singles SL4 - Group A match one of the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics.
Suhas, who has become the first civil servant from the country to represent India in the Tokyo Paralympics, dominated the proceedings and completed the match in 19 minutes with a straight-set victory. Niklas Pott had no answers to Suhas’ shots. Suhas will lock horns in his second group stage match on Friday. Earlier in the day, shuttler Palak Kohli and Parul Parmar went down 0-2 against second-seeded Huihui MA and Hefang Cheng of China in their first Group B match.
Jakhar finishes fifth in mixed 25M pistol SH1 final
Tokyo: Shooter Rahul Jakhar finished fifth in the P3 mixed 25M pistol SH1 after giving a tough fight in the summit clash of the Tokyo Paralympics. Jakhar might have missed out on a medal but the Indian shooter impressed everyone in his maiden appearance at the Paralympic Games.
Injured taekwondo athlete Aruna Tanwar pulls out
Tokyo: India’s taekwondo player Aruna Tanwar has withdrawn from her women’s K44-49kg repechage quarterfinal bout of the Tokyo Paralympics because of an injury.
“#ParaTaekwondo Update. India's Aruna Tanwar withdraws from her Women's K44-49kg Repechage quarterfinal bout due to an injury. We wish her a speedy recovery and all the best for her competitions ahead,” SAI Media tweeted. Aruna was taken for scans after she injured herself on Thursday. AGENCIES
3 Sept, some Indian records
Biswajyoti Brahma, Sep 4, 2021: The Times of India
From: Sep 4, 2021: The Times of India
See graphic:
India at the Tokyo Paralympics on 3 Sept 2021
India’s unprecedented medal run at the Paralympics was led on Friday by a Delhi college student and a shooter who was winning her second medal at the Paralympic Games. Then, our first-ever archery medal, a feat yet to be achieved by the Olympians. Busy, ground-breaking days for the Indian para-athletes in Tokyo — for some, just another weekday — with three more medals coming on Day 11 and the shuttlers assuring at least two more in the coming days.
Praveen Kumar, a Bachelor of Arts senior at Motilal Nehru College, set a new Asian record to claim the high jump T64 silver to start the day on a bright note for India. The 18-yer-old Praveen’s feat was followed by Avani Lekhara who claimed her second medal at the Games, a bronze in the women’s 50m Rifle 3 position SH1 event. Avani had earlier won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle standing SH1 event.
Harvinder Singh – pursuing a PhD in Economics --capped the day brilliantly with a recurve bronze by beating Kim Min Su, a South Korean archer, folk who are often regarded as the gold standard in this ancient sport. Harvinder had lost his recurve archery semifinal in the last shot but showed rare nerves to win the bronzemedal play off in a shoot-off. In fact, it was the third shoot-off of the day for the 30-year-old from Haryana. Harvinder besting the Korean meant that India took their tally to 13, their best-ever at the Games. The tally includes two gold, six silver and five bronze.
Shuttlers Manoj Sarkar and Pramod Bhagat, in SL3 category, and Noida district magistrate Suhas LY and Tarun Dhillon, in SL4 category, advanced to the semifinals in men’s singles, ensuring at least two medals for the country from the courts.
4 Sept: two golds
Sabi Hussain, Sep 5, 2021: The Times of India
From: Sep 5, 2021: The Times of India
See graphic: India at the Tokyo Paralympics on 4 Sept 2021
There’s a newfound love for Tokyo. A year ago, it would have been a little improbable to believe that India would see its greatest season in sport, especially in the aftermath of a cancelled 2020. Suddenly there’s something of an inevitability as Indian athletes refuse to leave the winning mix at the Japanese capital – almost adamant not to let the glory stories of the past month and half end, like a favourite movie stuck on loop.
These past six weeks – be it the Olympics or the Paralympic Games – have thrown up a new normal for us. The gold dust from Neeraj Chopra and Co’s exploits has not settled yet — the country’s para-athletes have been breaking new ground with their courage and resilience. On Saturday, it was the turn of shooters Manish Narwal and Singhraj Adhana and shuttlers Pramod Bhagat and Manoj Sarkar to swell the country’s medal tally to 17, its highest since the time India started competing at these Games in 1972.
The 19-year-old Narwal, competing in P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 category, smashed a Paralympic record to clinch a historic gold in his debut Games. His senior compatriot Adhana bagged the silver in the same event to make it a sensational one-two finish for the country.
Then came a Neeraj-like ascension to gold. You just had the feeling that it would be special, such was shuttler Bhawat’s quiet confidence rubbing off on us. The World No. 1 para badminton player became the first Indian to win a gold in the sport when he saw off old rival, Daniel Bethell of the Great Britain, in the men’s singles SL3 class final. Badminton has made its debut at the Paralympics this year. Taking a cue from Bhagat’s achievement, Manoj Sarkar bagged bronze after beating Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in the third-place play-off.
Shooter Narwal shot a total of 218.2 for a Paralympic record after leading the final from the beginning. The multiple-time gold medallist at the para shooting World Cups and Asian Games thanked his coaches Rakesh Thakur, Jai Prakash Nautiyal and Subhash Rana for his success. “I was always focused towards winning a gold at the Paralympics and I am happy to have achieved the feat,” the man from Haryana’s Ballabhgarh said.
It was a vintage contest in badminton, familiar foes going against each other. Settled in Odisa, with roots in Bihar, Bhagat showed great fighting skills to stave off a tough challenge from second-seed Bethell in a thrilling final that lasted 45 minutes. The Indian won 21-14, 21-17. “This is very special to me,”Bhagat said after winning India’s fourth gold at the Games. “My dream has come true. Bethell really pushed me but I just kept my calm.”
Bhagat had contracted polio when he was five. Multiple inadequate treatments caused deformity in his leg. One of the best para badminton players in the country, Bhagat has so far won 45 international medals, including four World Championship gold and a gold and bronze at the 2018 Asian Para Games.
The 33-year-old is in contention for a bronze in mixed doubles SL3-SU5 class as well. He and partner Palak Kohli will meet the Japanese pair of Daisuke Fujihara and Akiko Sugino in the bronze play-off.
The 39-year-old Adhana, who competes with polio-impaired lower limbs, has joined the elite club of Indians with multiple medals in the same edition of the Paralympics.The Faridabad-based para shooter had earlier secured a bronze in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 category.
Hailing from Uttarakhand, Sarkar, 31, bagged a bronze after defeating Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara 22-20, 21-13 in the third-place playoff in the men’s singles SL3 class. Sarkar had contracted polio when he was one-year-old.
