India Ends Record-Breaking Paris Paralympics Campaign with 29 Medals

India wrapped up its best-ever performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024, securing 29 medals – seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze – placing the country in the 18th position in the overall standings. The final Indian athlete in action, Pooja Ojha, bowed out after failing to qualify for the women’s kayak 200m final.

Navdeep Singh’s victory in the men’s javelin throw (F41 classification) provided India’s last gold, bringing the campaign to a triumphant close. Initially, Singh secured silver with a 47.32m throw, upstaging world record holder Sun Pengxiang of China (44.72m). However, his medal was upgraded to gold after Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah, who set a new Paralympic record with a 47.64m throw, was disqualified for violating International Paralympic Committee rules by displaying an objectionable flag.

Track-and-field contributed significantly to India’s success, claiming 17 of the 29 medals, including four golds. Simran, guided by Abhay Singh, added a bronze in the women’s 200m (T12), clocking a personal best of 24.75 seconds. The visually impaired athlete, who is also the reigning world champion, had earlier finished fourth in the 100m event.

India’s outstanding performance saw them surpass nations like Switzerland, Belgium, and South Korea, finishing within the top 20 globally. China led the standings with 208 medals, including 90 golds. Meanwhile, Pakistan ended their campaign joint-bottom, with just one bronze medal.

India’s strong showing in Paris has raised hopes for an even better performance in the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.