17 Indian Superheroes with 19 medals at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, said loud and clear – I’M POSSIBLE!
2021 has been a fantastic year for Indian athletes. After Neeraj Chopra scripted history by earning the first gold in athletics for India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, our contingent continues to make us proud in the Paralympics (an event for specially-abled athletes that takes place every four years, just like the Olympics).
Breaking all previous records, this year at Tokyo, our athletes brought home 5 gold medals, 8 silver medals and 6 bronze medals, bringing the medal haul to double digits for the first time in the Indian Paralympic history. From Sumit Antil’s stunning gold-worthy performance to Avani Lekhara’s historic double win in her debut performance, these athletes have proved that with strong willpower, hard work, and determination, they are truly unstoppable!
Also Read: What you did NOT know about the Olympics
Meet the 17 amazing Indian Athletes at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics who won medals and millions of hearts
Sport: Javelin throw | Medal Earned: Gold
Ace javelin thrower Sumit Antil smashed his previous record thrice in the space of six throws to clinch the gold in the Tokyo Paralympics. The world number one in the F64 category produced a throw of 68.55m in his fifth attempt to stun the athletics world and register a new record under his name.
SPEECHLESS ?
? Sumit Antil sets a WR with his first 66.95m throw!
? Breaks his OWN WR with his second 68.08m attempt!
? Breaks it yet AGAIN in his 5th attempt with 68.55m
? Wins the Men's Javelin F64 #Gold for #IND! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/q3Nl2m1dLM— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
The 23-year-old from Sonipat, Haryana, was a budding wrestler when his left leg had to be amputated after a motorbike accident. This is when he picked up the javelin. His back-to-back new records and a stunning yellow metal validate his hard work and dedication to the sport.
Sport: Shooting | Medal Earned: Gold and Bronze
Avani Lekhara scripted history with her debut performance in the Paralympics by winning a gold medal in 10m air rifle standing and a bronze medal in 50m air rifle standing. With this, she became the first Indian woman and the second Indian athlete to win multiple medals at the same Paralympic games after Joginder Singh Bedi, who bagged three medals at the 1984 Games.
The first #IND woman to win a #Paralympics #gold shares her thoughts on her spectacular feat. ??#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ShootingParaSport @AvaniLekharapic.twitter.com/KDWFVW0QUm
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
This Jaipur based trailblazing shooter is only 19 years old. A student of law, Lekhara picked up the sport as a hobby on the insistence of her father. Confined to a wheelchair after a car accident that injured her spinal cord, she got serious about the sport after reading Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography, in which he detailed his journey to being an Olympic champion. Soon after, she made her debut for India in the 2017 World Cup in Al Ain, UAE, where she bagged a silver medal and from there, there was no looking back!
Sport: Shooting | Medal Earned: Gold
Pistol shooter Manish Narwal won a gold medal after creating a Paralympic record score of 218.2. The 19-year-old from Faridabad claimed the yellow metal in Mixed 50m Pistol SH 1 in his debut performance.
#GOLD for 19-year-old Manish Narwal! ?#IND have won their 14th #Paralympics medal, completing a 1-2 in the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 Final with Singhraj Adhana finishing 2⃣nd! ?#Tokyo2020 #ShootingParaSport pic.twitter.com/Wvkx8enKnE
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 4, 2021
Narwal began pistol shooting in 2016 in Faridabad, Haryana. A fan of Leo Messi, he wanted to pursue football, but couldn’t go beyond the local club due to a congenital impairment in his right hand. On a close friend’s suggestion, he joined the TenX Shooting Academy in Ballabgarh, Faridabad. He announced himself on the big stage by winning the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 gold and the P4 mixed 50m pistol SH1 silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games. In 2020, he was conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award for his excellent performance.
Sport: Badminton | Medal Earned: Gold
India’s shuttler Pramod Bharat smashed his way past the finals to win the first gold in the men’s singles (SL3 category). His explosive and well-calculated playing technique helped him defeat Daniel Bethell of Great Britain at the final of the men’s singles badminton event.
World Champion, and now Paralympics Champion ?
Here's the moment when Pramod Bhagat scripted history. #Gold medallist in #ParaBadminton's first ever edition at the #Paralympics?#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/DJRYqtldKE
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 4, 2021
This 33-year-old, left-handed para-badminton player from Bhubaneswar, Odisha has brought many laurels for the nation including the World Championships and Asian Para Games. Coming a long way to overcome a defect on his leg from an early age, Bhagat’s dedication and discipline have helped him excel in badminton. This four-time world champion is ranked world number one in para-badminton (SL3).
Sport: Badminton | Medal Earned: Gold
Para-shuttler Krishna Nagar took the biggest of leaps by winning gold at the Paralympics. With this win, he became the first-ever SH6 gold medallist in the history of the Indian Paralympics. The 22-year-old defeated Hong Kong’s Chu Man Kai in an intense clash that ended in 21-17, 16-21, 21-17.
Wow. What a performance from #IND's @Krishnanagar99 ?
The leave that won ?? it's 5th #Gold medal at the #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics ?️?#ParaBadminton pic.twitter.com/dkibiPQhCv
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 5, 2021
At just two years of age, Nagar was diagnosed with dwarfism and therefore, a deficiency in growth hormones. But that never stopped him from dreaming big. With a natural talent for sporting activities, Nagar excelled in jumps, sprints, badminton, and was a budding athlete from a young age. In 2017, when he came across para-badminton, his perspective on life changed and he started preparing for the Olympics. Since then, there has been no looking back for him as he kept on scaling higher boundaries.
Sport: Table Tennis | Medal Earned: Silver
Table Tennis player Bhavina Patel created history by becoming the first Indian para-paddler to win a silver medal. The 34-year-old from Gujarat played the finals against the world number one Chinese paddler, Zhou Ying, in the women’s singles table tennis tournament.
An accomplishment that will echo through #IND ?️
Bhavina Patel receives her medal as she wins the nation's first #silver in #ParaTableTennis at the #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics ❤️pic.twitter.com/l4xzgHpYWK
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 29, 2021
Patel started playing the sport 13 years ago at the Blind People’s Association, Ahmedabad. Soon she won her first medal in a competition while representing the Rotary Club in Ahmedabad. She went on to win several matches, including the International Table Tennis Federation Asian Para Table Tennis Championship, the PTT Thailand Table Tennis Championship and reached the rank of world number two. Confined to a wheelchair due to polio, Patel played in the Class 4 category (in para table tennis, classes 1-5 are for wheelchair athletes) in the Paralympics.
Sport: Badminton | Medal Earned: Silver
The world No.2 in Men’s Singles, Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj ended his match with a historic silver at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games. The 38-year-old from Karnataka is more than just a professional Para-Badminton player. He is also the district magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) and hence the country’s first-ever IAS officer to win a medal at the Paralympics.
? Suhas wins #Silver #IND's Suhas Yathiraj won his nation's 18th medal of the #Paralympics, after #FRA's Lucas Mazur mounted an incredible comeback to win the Men's Singles SL4 final 15-21, 21-17, 21-15! ?#ParaBadminton #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/aAOPMKj5Bm
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 5, 2021
From his long working hours during the day as the district’s top bureaucrat to preparing for the games at night, Suhas LY had a strict schedule in the run-up to the competition. An engineering graduate from NIT Surathkal, Yathiraj, with a leg impairment cracked the civil services exam to become India’s first specially-abled IAS officer in 2007.
Sport: Javelin throw | Medal Earned: Silver
Devendra Jhajharia made history for India as the second person to win three medals in the Paralympics after Joginder Singh Bedi. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, he won silver in the men’s F46 javelin throw after he pulled off a new personal best throw of 64.35m.
?Athens 2004
?Rio 2016
?Tokyo 2020Watch #IND's #Paralympics legend, @DevJhajharia's #Silver medal winning throw ? #Tokyo2020 #ParaAthleticspic.twitter.com/fmwLbmw9l4
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
Hailing from Churu district in Rajasthan, the 40-year-old Jhajharia had to amputate his left arm after he accidentally touched a live electric wire at the age of eight. Being a true sportsman from his school days, he was fascinated by the sport that ‘would require only one arm’ to play. In 2004, Jhajharia broke all records when he brought home his first gold medal in Athens Paralympics (2004) and then the second gold in Rio Paralympics (2016). He is the first para-athlete to be given the prestigious Padma Shri award. In 2004, he was also awarded the Arjuna Award for his invincible spirit and his contribution to the field of sports in the country.
Sport: Discus throw | Medal Earned: Silver
Yogesh Kathuniya went on to win a silver medal when he sent the disc flying to a distance of 44.38m in his sixth attempt in the F56 classification.
Let's 'discus' this #silver medal-winning throw ?
Watch #IND's Yogesh Kathuniya's season-best throw of 44.38m which earned #IND another medal at the #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics❗?#ParaAthleticspic.twitter.com/DkD5793ImC
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
Bound to a wheelchair after suffering a paralytic attack (due to a neurological syndrome called quadriparesis) when he was seven, it left him with a loss of function in all four limbs. It was his family’s constant efforts and physiotherapy which resulted in Yogesh making a partial recovery and eventually getting into the sport. The 24-year-old discus thrower has earlier achieved two gold medals in the 2019 Handisport Open, Paris, one gold medal in the Indian Grand Prix, Bangalore 2019 and a bronze medal in World Para Athletics Championship, Dubai 2019.
Sport: High Jump | Medal Earned: Silver
Jumping high enough to clinch a silver medal, Praveen Kumar made it a debut to remember in the men’s high jump T64 event. The 18-year-old from Delhi also set a new Asian record with a 2.07m jump.
A new Asian Record for Praveen Kumar as he jumps 2.07m in Men’s High Jump T64! ? #GBR's Jonathan Broom-Edwards wins #gold!
??'s medal tally is now up to 1⃣1⃣! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/uzyjEZ1Qe2
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 3, 2021
Kumar has a congenital impairment that affects the bones that connect his hip. But his disabilities never stopped him from dreaming high. He has recorded several accomplishments under his name, including a gold at the World Para Athletics GP.
Sport: High Jump | Medal Earned : Silver
Nishad Kumar clinched a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 event in the Paralympics. The 21-year-old cleared 2.06m on his second attempt to equal his own Asian record.
????
The leap that earned Nishad Kumar that glorious #Silver! ?
Watch how he earned #IND's second silver medal of the day ?#Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ParaAthleticspic.twitter.com/nYDBefYGXz
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 29, 2021
Hailing from Una in Himachal Pradesh, Nishad lost his right hand in a fodder cutting machine. In 2009, he took up para-sports and went on to compete and set records in several competitions, including the World Para Athletics GP and the World Para Athletics Championships for a berth in the Tokyo Paralympics.
Sport: High Jump | Medal Earned: Silver
Defending champion Mariyappan Thangavelu cleared 1.86m to win a silver medal in the men’s T63 high jump. The 26-year-old from Salem is a Padma Shri and Arjuna awarded for his outstanding contribution towards sports.
The Rio 2016 champion settles for #Silver at #Tokyo2020, but fought until the end to retain his title! ?
Watch his Men's High Jump T63 Final attempt ??#Paralympics #ParaAthletics #INDpic.twitter.com/7Lh1fyhlXg
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 31, 2021
When Thangavelu was five years old, he met with a tragic accident while walking to school. That incident left him permanently disabled in his right leg. Raised by his mother, who is a vegetable seller, Thangavelu battled abject poverty.
Thangavelu became an overnight sensation after winning a gold medal in the Rio Paralympics and has since gone on to win bronze at the Asian Para Games (2018) and World Para Athletics Championships (2019).
Sport: Shooting | Medal Earned: Silver and Bronze
Pistol shooter Singhraj Adana registered two medals at this year’s Paralympics – a silver in the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 event and a bronze in the men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 event.
???#IND's Singhraj Adhana wins his second medal of the #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics – a #Silver in the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 Final! ?
It's 1⃣5⃣ medals for ??! #ShootingParaSport pic.twitter.com/7h9yDG0MJK
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 4, 2021
The 39-year-old who has a limb impairment due to polio showcased his brilliant performance by grabbing two medals in this year’s Paralympics.
Sport: Badminton | Medal Earned: Bronze
Arjuna Award recipient Manoj Sarkar beat Japan’s Daisuke Fujihara in a pulsating match to win bronze in the men’s singles (SL3).
Manoj does it for ??! #IND's Manoj Sarkar bags the #Bronze medal in #ParaBadminton Men's Singles SL3, getting the better of #JPN's Daisuke Fujihara. ?
For the second time today, 2⃣ Indians make up the podium places. Wow. #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/CrW8NMBC3v
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 4, 2021
Sarkar took up badminton when he was just five-year-old and played several inter-school competitions against able-bodied players before competing in para-badminton in 2011. A gold medal winner in the SL3 singles at the 2016 Asian Championships in Beijing, Sarkar was named Para Sportsman of the Year at the Sportstar Aces Awards.
Sport: Javelin throw | Medal Earned: Bronze
Ace player Sundar Singh Gurjar chipped in with a bronze medal in the men’s F46 javelin throw event finishing after Devendra Jhajharia. Two-times para world champion, Gurjar had earlier won the gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships – in 2017 & 2019.
Sundar Singh Gurjar wins #BRONZE for #IND in Men's Javelin Throw F46 Final event.
What a day for #IND at #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/xiYWQmTI23
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 30, 2021
Hailing from Rajasthan’s Karauli, 25-year-old Gurjar used to compete in the general category before he lost his left palm in an incident in 2015. He shot to fame in 2016 when he registered the ‘A’ qualification mark for the 2016 Rio Paralympics with a performance of 59.36m in the IPC Athletics Grand Prix, Dubai.
Sport: High Jump | Medal Earned: Bronze
With a high jump of 1.83m, Sharad Kumar grabbed a bronze medal in the F42 category. The 29-year-old Patna-born is also a Sports Authority of India (SAI) coach.
The #Paralympics and sports have a special place in High Jump T63 #Bronze Medallist, Sharad Kumar's heart. ??♥️#Tokyo2020 @sharad_kumar01
?: Media_SAIpic.twitter.com/UjRiiHQIZ2
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 31, 2021
Kumar had suffered paralysis in his left leg as a two-year-old after being administered a spurious polio dose. He took to high jump when he was in Class 7 and made his international debut in 2010 at the Asian Para Games in Guangzhou.
Sport: Archery | Medal Earned: Bronze
Harvinder Singh made headlines in a thrilling shoot-off round against Kim Min Su of Korea to win a bronze in men’s individual recurve open event. With this, he became the first-ever Indian archer to win a medal in the Paralympics.
A perfect ? from Harvinder Singh!
?️The #IND shooter earned a spot in the Men's Individual Recurve 1/8 Elimination and will face #RPC's Bato Tsydendorzhiev shortly! ⏰ #ParaArchery #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/EPjBSoahZs
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) September 3, 2021
The 31-year-old Singh, who hails from a small village called Guhla Cheeka near Kaithal in Haryana is an economic scholar who is pursuing his PhD. He was the first athlete from India to win a gold medal at a major para competition in the 2018 Asian Games.
Singh lost the ability to move his legs properly when he was a year-and-a-half old, due to the adverse effects of an injection during a bout of dengue.
The efforts put in by the athletes in this Tokyo 2020 Paralympics have placed India among the top 25 countries in terms of medal wins. Their determination and ‘never give up’ attitude is the testimony of their true sportsmanship. We salute our athletes for bringing glory to the nation.
Books are Tanaya Goswami’s first love and cheesecakes come a close second. Talking about movies, music, calligraphy, politics, and Elon Musk will get you listed under the friends’ section of her diary. Ever since moving on from her job as an English lecturer, she spends her time at BYJU’S crafting stories filled with emotion and sprinkled with sarcasm. Outside of work, she’s either learning something new (French, most recently!) or is curled up with a book and a cup of coffee. She firmly believes that discovering what you don’t know is the key to knowledge and is constantly working towards improving herself. Drop in a line at storyweavers@byjus.com if you liked her stories, have something nice to say, or if you have compelling ideas to share!
Comments
Wow it gives us lot of information . Thank's Byju's
September 19, 2021
Wow this gives a lot of information . Thank’s Byju’s
Seher Sidhu
September 17, 2021
it is a moment of happines and joy.it is unbelieveable that india has got double digits in olympic madal tally
S.SAIRAM
September 16, 2021
What a spectacular session for india Iam really proud to be a indian first I have congrats super seventeen who participated and collected the medals in Paralympics.Congratulations for your future career. Then we all proud of them.A big salute for players who participated in Paralympics. jai hind!!!!
Sharshti Chauhan
September 15, 2021
Seven super wounded of india who made india proud in tokya olimpics. They made india proud neeraj and mira bai chanu etc. Thanks
Deepti Naik
September 13, 2021
Proud to be an Indian ????
Mayank verma
September 13, 2021
Nice information thank you byjus
SHREYA SINHA
September 12, 2021
Superb tokyo paralympics in 2021. Not expected . That’s why I am proud to be an Indian.
Priyansh verma
September 12, 2021
Very nice story
Kumar Ansh Raj
September 12, 2021
That was good information
Khushboo Yadav
September 11, 2021
Amazing india I have proud of it ????
anjali
September 11, 2021
Congratulations to these super seventeen.
They are wonders of India.
Proud of them.
Zahin akhtar
September 11, 2021
Feeling proud to be an Indian….I am sure in the Paris Paralympics India will be in top 20. And one day the time will come when India will be no.1….JAI HIND??????
Bhargavi Maiya U N
September 11, 2021
Excellent information .Such a wonderful hardworker . Super ? . Proud to be an Indian.
Thank You Byju’s.
Harsh
September 11, 2021
?
ANJALI CHAUHAN
September 11, 2021
Really, proud to be an indian. ??????????
Rosny choudhary
September 11, 2021
Proud to be an indian ????
Ishita
September 11, 2021
Thanks or this inormation
it was needed
Priyanshu kalasua
September 11, 2021
Thank you fir giving us the information
Manasvi foman
September 11, 2021
Thank you for the information
Jiya Patle
September 11, 2021
Thank you byju’s for this knowledgeable information
Lekharaj Amanta
September 11, 2021
Thanks for giving the information … Thanks byjus
Prakriti singh
September 11, 2021
Very proud of heros for performing in paralympics in 2021.
Pratibha nayak
September 10, 2021
Wow !superb!proud to be indian
Thulasidhar
September 10, 2021
Thank you for giving information
Ananya
September 10, 2021
Amazing to all heroes…….. proud to be an Indian??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Priyanshi Agrawal
September 10, 2021
Proud to be an Indian
Anubhav
September 10, 2021
Fantastic 17 !
Ranadeep Sain
September 10, 2021
Thank you for this small knowledgeable article on the Super Heroes of Paralympics Tokyo 2020.I appreciate your endeavor to give this sports heroes their rightful honour.India is no where close to being a Sporting Powerhouse in respect to countries such as USA, China, Russia, Australia, Great Britain among others.But with more sports enthusiasts coming to the forefront to bring a change in India’s sporting culture, things are slowly but surely moving in the right direction.Sports is not just a physical and a mental activity, It’s a way of life.Would love to connect with you. I am also an Author and a Coach apart from being a Banker.
K.MANAZA
September 10, 2021
Normally people would do anything that’s possible. But specially able people I never thought they can do and won 5 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze total 19 that’s impressive ! I proud these 17 indian athletes
Poorvi sah
September 9, 2021
Whis then best of luck
Ekaansh Tiwari
September 9, 2021
I am really proud of all Indian Athletes for their hard work and getting India Medal in Paralympics.
Ayan Akhtar
September 9, 2021
Proud to be Indian ??????
Saksham Paliwal
September 9, 2021
Superb for Tokyo 2021
Taranveer
September 9, 2021
Thank you
Taranveer
September 9, 2021
Thank you for giving this information.
Samiksha Shakya
September 9, 2021
Proud to be an Indian and congratulations to all para athletes.??
Riya Kalakoti
September 9, 2021
Proud to be an Indian????❤️❤️
Saanvi thakur
September 9, 2021
I don’t know about this paralympics.thank u byjus for giving such nice information ?????
Jiya
September 9, 2021
I am proud of me because my born in india… And I am Indian
Ch.Rushi Priya
September 9, 2021
Amazing?
Thank you BYJU’S for giving this Information!!
Abhi verma
September 9, 2021
Thank you so much; Byjus
Arun Patil
September 9, 2021
I am ver happy by reading the article.
Really informative for all. We hope the same ahead.
Anushka Dajisaheb Patil
September 9, 2021
It’s much useful … Amazing information .. thanks ? byjus
Abhishree
September 9, 2021
Thanks byjus for giving the information
Poonam J Wayam
September 9, 2021
I’am proud of my India??
Sunanada Patra
September 9, 2021
I am very proud to be an Indian.
I am also proud of the super 17. I am wishing them my very best. I hope in the next Olympic India will get more medals.
B. Niveditha
September 9, 2021
We are all proud of you and this the greatest moment for India
Jai Hind
Mansi Kokate
September 8, 2021
Proud to be Indian?? ?
Arpita Rath
September 8, 2021
Nice very nice Thank you sir
Aaditya Singh
September 8, 2021
So inspiring and motivational
Rohit Nilesh Barve
September 8, 2021
Let’s have a round of applause for all Paralympics participants
R.Rakshika
September 8, 2021
Wow well done India ???????
Anushree
September 8, 2021
I really love this newsletters provided by byjus.
Patel yatri
September 8, 2021
Nice
Rohit Sharma
September 8, 2021
Wow Amazing
Rohit Sharma
September 8, 2021
Amazing
Ganga Prasanth
September 8, 2021
It’was so inspiring and so interesting to know their stories and to see their videos,
Maittraye Dimri
September 8, 2021
Really super seventeen ??
Sounak Dhara
September 8, 2021
Feeling proud to be an Indian….I am sure in the Paris Paralympics India will be in top 20. And one day the time will come when India will be no.1….JAI HIND??????
Rohith.VG
September 8, 2021
Proud to be an Indian??…
Mohammedshahalsha.v
September 8, 2021
?
Jatin Manoj Kumar
September 8, 2021
super seven wonders of india who made india proud in Tokyo olympics.They made india proud neeraj and Mira Bai chanu etc. Thanks for giving me this information
Jatin Manoj Kumar
September 8, 2021
Thank you for giving this information.
Ayushi Dhar Chowdhury
September 8, 2021
Oh!!!! What a useful piece of information!!! Thank you Byju’s!!!