After a very creditable showing in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Indian athletes are making their mark at the Tokyo Paralympics currently underway from 24 August to 5 September 2021. Bhavina Patel won a silver medal in table tennis – from a wheelchair. Yogesh Kathuniya won silver in the discus throw event which brings India’s tally of athletics medals to 5 in all. This morning Indians received news of a Gold Medal win in the Air Rifle event by Avani Lakhera who is just 19. Here are the deets.
The Paralympics are organised to provide a level playing field for athletes that have certain disabilities or limitations. So far Indian athletes have done well to win a gold, four silver medals and two bronze medals in various sports.
Bhavina Patel won a silver medal in table tennis. She contracted polio as a child and has been using crutches or a wheelchair to move around. This was India’s first medal at this Paralympics and our first ever in the table tennis event.
This morning we received news that an Indian athlete has won a gold medal in the air rifle event. Avani Lakhera was just 11 when a car accident left her paralysed waist down. This law student is just 19.
The men’s high jump event saw another amazing performance from an Indian athlete to clinch silver. He is missing his right hand but that did not stop him from making a medal-winning jump and setting a new Asian record.
Yogesh Kathuniya is a discus thrower and he won the silver medal in this event. A paralytic attack at age 8 left meant that he has impairments with physical coordination. He has had a tough time preparing for this event during the past 18 months because of the lockdown. He prepared without the aid of a coach and still managed to win a silver medal. He has his eyes trained on Paris and the gold medal!
This doughty performer won a silver medal in the javelin throw event. He had lost his left hand at age 8 due to an amputation following an incident involving a live electric cable while climbing a tree.
Sundar Singh Gurjar won a bronze medal for the javelin throw event as well – as such both the silver and the bronze medals went to India. This versatile athlete is also a discus thrower and shot putter.
Also in the discus throw event, Vinod Kumar clinched the bronze medal and also set a new Asian record in the process. However, this medal is under review for categorisation. This amazing 41-year-old athlete had sustained injuries to both legs following a fall off a cliff in Leh, which had left him bedridden for ten years.
Indian athletes have done really well to claim four three silver and two bronze medals in the track and field events. There is more to come – all of Indian hopes and watches for more Indian athletes to make their mark at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
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