With 27 medals already at Paris Paralympics 2024, Indian Para athletes have created history by clinching most medals at a single Paralympics edition for India.
With 29 medals already at Paris Paralympics 2024, Indian Para athletes have created history by clinching most medals at a single Paralympics edition for India, crossing their previous record of 19 medals at Tokyo Paralympics 2021. India so far have won 7Gold medals, 9 silver medals and 13 bronze medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Avani Lekhara, Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar won the Gold medals in Paris. Avani broke the Paralympic record with 249.7 points in the Women's 10m AR Standing SH1 event while Nitesh Kumar grabbed the gold in Men's Singles SL3 by beating Daniel Bethell in the final. Sumit Antil then broke the Paralympics record in Men's Javelin Throw - F64 with a 70.59m throw to clinch the Gold.
Both Avani and Sumit became the only the third Indian to win mutiple Gold medals at the Paralympics while 9 other Para Athletes also became multimedalists at Paralympic Games for India.
Praveen Kumar, Dharambir, Harvinder Singh were the other Indians to clinch Gold medals at the Paralympic Games 2024. Praveen won the Gold in Men's High Jump T64, Dharambir won Gold in Men's Club throw F51 while Harvinder Singh became the first Indian to win Gold in Para-Achrey in Paralympics.
On day 10, Mandeep Singh won India's 7th Gold medal by clinching a Pralaympic record in Men's Javelin Throw F-41.
A lot of instances have seen cricket being differentiated from other sports. Especially, in South Asian countries, where cricket rules a fraternity, "sports" look doomed. An established "Cricket versus Sports" league is not a 2-month long tournament. It's an age-long duel with apparent results. But, is cricket guilty?
If we look back, Cricket was not as big as it is now. Restricted within the allies of a colonized country, cricket was just a time pass. 36 years to Independence, but a famous singer (Lata Mangeshkar) had to arrange a charity musical show to gather prize money for the 1983 World Cup Winners.
The image of Kapil lifting the World Cup trophy from the iconic Lord's balcony. Photo Collcted.
India gained some confidence since then. the biggest boost came after the win in the inaugurating T20 World Cup Win. 2007, 24the September, exactly 20 years back, the seed of the cash-rich league got sown.
Indian Premier League, started in 2008, is the biggest source of money earning for BCCI. Keeping aside BCCI, the neighbouring cricketing nations have their cricket board more powerful than the other boards. But is this a fault of Cricket?
"Athletes" ignites the fire of "Cricket versus Sport" League
India won its second T20I World Cup after ending its 11 years of drought. The fans who were frustrated for a decade finally got one thing to celebrate. The Marine Drive got flooded with people. The Wankahde Stadium showed all its suppresed love to the team.
The Indian team received a grand welcome at the Mumbai's Marine Drive that was followed by a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium. AP
But this has triggered athletes from different sports. Names like Chirag Shetty and Saina Nehwal came into the limelight criticizing the sport. When Shetty wanted equal recognition for India's win in the last Uber Cup, Saina went a step ahead. Her view was simple- people wouldn't even hate cricket even if she did so. But, why would someone hate cricket?
This is not a once or twice-told story. This widespread competition with cricket is not new. But is cricket a foe to other sports? Here are a few stories of "influence" and "idolization" in the recent past, not only from India but from neighbors too.
Sri Lanka Cricket funded CWG participating athletes.
Palitha Bandara recorded a distance of 44.20 meters and won the silver medal for Sri Lanka. Photo collected
The pre-2022 Commonwealth Games has seen an economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Not just economic, but the life on the island was distressed. The then Prime Minister Rajadhakshya fled from the country. Sri Lanka since its independence faced their record crisis.
The country fell short of food and fuel. The pandemic had already hit the Sports authorities. The crisis increased the hardships. They ran out of money. The situation was so pathetic that the boards couldn't manage transport to send the accessories to the athletes
At a point, the country thought of withdrawing its name from the Birmingham CWG. But at that very moment, Sri Lanka Cricket stepped in.
The board contributed 22 million Sri Lankan Rupees to the athletes participating. They hosted Australia and gathered the amount, despite the fears of the crowd ruining it.
Cricket Sri Lanka tried to cover all the funds. However, the athletes still had limited athleisure. CWG authorities too came in help for the athletes. Sri Lanka finished the CWG Campaign with four medals (one silver and three bronze).
Pakistan Cricket Board- the unsung sponsor for Arshad Nadeem
Arshad Nadeem Won the gold medal for Pakistan, at Paris Olympics. Photo coutesy: Olympics
The Paris Olympics Gold medallist Arshad Nadeem was initially an age-group cricket player, His focus later shifted to javelin through which Pakistan got its first medal after 1992.
Arshad Nadeem registered a monstrous throw of 92.97 metres sealing the gold for his country. Earlier he won the silver at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Budapest, with a throw of 87.82 meters. He gave Pakistan’s first-ever medal at the World Athletics Championships.
But what did Pakistan give him? ignorance! The Commonwealth champion earlier expressed that he has been using a javelin for the last 8 years. His bosom friend and admirer Neeraj Chopra from India tweeted, urging the Pakistan Government to buy Nadeem news javelins.
Nadeem hails from Punjab's Miyan Channu village. Struggling themselves, the villagers funded him for his Olympic campaign. Added, that it was the Pakistan Cricket Bard who sponsored him.
PCB also financed Nadeem and his coach Salman Fayyaz Butt's air tickets.
Earlier BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced financial aid for the Olympians.BCCI granted Rs. 8.5 Crores (approximately $1.03 million) to the Indian Olympic Association for their Olympics campaign.
Recently a new NCA (National Cricket Academy) is near completion. The old existing facilities at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the city center will be upgraded to a multi-sport training facility.
Apart from the cricketers, it will open doors for the Olympians too. NCA will have new facilities that will let them train there.
The new facilities will have World-Class Playing Grounds will have:
45 Practice Pitches: A variety of pitches to cater to different training needs.
Indoor Cricket Facilities: For year-round practice and skill development.
Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool: To aid in recovery and cross-training for athletes.
State-of-the-Art Training and Recovery Facilities: Equipped with the latest sports science technology to help athletes maintain peak physical condition and recover efficiently from injuries.
Cricketer- "athlete" collaboration
When one section came forward criticizing the fame, the other one took it handy to make their own.
Mahi's influence
Speaking about Swapnil Kusale, he himself mentioned that he doesn't follow any other sport apart from shooting. But he follows Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Kusale, who is an Indian Railways employee is a ticket checker like Dhoni. It took him 12 years to feature in the Olympics. And take India's first ever 10m Rifle position 3 medal. The Asian Games Champion accepted that MS's calm personality helps him to stay calm in chaos.
One of the biggest heartbreak for any badminton fan was Lakshya Sen's exit from the Olympics without a medal. The Chinese Lee Zii Jia shattered Sen's bronze medal dream.
But Sen's popularity is still unmatched in the sports arena. Even though he is "big," he still wants to "be the Virat Kohli of Indian badminton in coming years." In "The Ranveer Show" podcast he expressed his admiration for Kohli.
The other name that comes in the list is Nitesh Kumar. The Olympic Champion in the Men's Singles SL3 category is a Kohli fan. His winning celebration had some glimpses of Kohli's aggression.
But Nitesh's love for Kohli is not limited to celebrations. After succumbing to a deadly injury in Vizag, he started upgrading his badminton skills. Not only that, he delved himself into fitness, inspired by the 2013 version of Kohli.
P.R Sreejesh celebrated in his unique style after winning the bronze medal at paris. (Reuters Photo)
Soon after retirement, Indian Men's Hockey team goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh was assigned to train the junior hockey team. The two-time Olympic Bronze medallist was delighted to get this role. he not only talked about the future prospects but did mentioned about Rahul Dravid.
"The Wall" of Indian Hockey looked upon "The Wall" of Indian Cricket when it came to coaching. The way Dravid devoted himself to training the cricketing juniors, Seejesh is looking forward to doing the same for his sports.
The 2028 Olympics will feature Cricket after 128 years. The brand value of Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in the addition of cricket. But as Sunil Chhetri, the Indian former captain of Indian Football once said, Cricket excelling is great for that country. Then, how does that justify other sports not getting the "love" cricket gets?
How does that justify Chirag Shetty repeatedly slipping down on the court, in the Olympics quarterfinal, having his partner Sattwikraj Rankireddy as the lone warrior?
How does that justify the associations not getting enough funds and definitely investing to find talent?
How does that justify archers failing to read the wind in bigger stages?
It's an open-ended question. Is it cricket the enemy, or the system? Is cricket actually an enemy or a friend in need?
BAI to give Rs 50 lakh cash rewards to Paris Paralympics 2024 medalists
Indian para-badminton players had won a total of five medals including one gold, two silver, and two bronze at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Gold medallists will be rewarded ₹15 lakh, while the silver medal winners will receive ₹10 lakh.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) announced a total cash award of Rs 50 lakh for the country's para-badminton players who won medals in the Paris Paralympics 2024 last month.
Indian para-badminton players had won a total of five medals including one gold, two silver, and two bronze at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Nitesh Kumar, who won gold in the men's singles SL3 category, will get a prize of Rs 15 lakh. Silver medalists Suhas Yathiraj (men's singles SL4) and Thulasimathi Murugesan (women's singles SU5) will be given Rs 10 lakh each.
Bronze medal winners Manisha Ramadass (women's singles SU5) and Nithya Sre Sivan (women's singles SH6 category) will get Rs 7 lakh 50 thousand each. Thulasimathi, Manisha and Nithya created history by becoming the first Indian female badminton players to win a medal in the Paralympics.
BAI Secretary General Sanjay Mishra said, “Indian Para badminton players have been performing consistently on the world stage and the cash rewards are just one way for BAI to recognise their efforts in helping the country win medals at the Paralympics.”
“BAI is committed to developing and promoting para-badminton across the country and helping these players achieve much more success and many more initiatives to develop para-badminton are being undertaken,” He added.
In view of the players' busy tournament schedule, BAI will also organize a virtual interaction session with these players to congratulate them and understand their requirements for continued development.
India at Paralympics 2024: Day 11 (September 8) Schedule
After the Paris Olympics 2024, players have once again started gathering in Paris for the Paralympic Games. It's time we look at India's Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 11 (September 8) schedule.
After theParis Olympics 2024, players have once again started gathering in Paris for the Paralympic Games. TheParis Paralympics 2024has been inaugurated on Wednesday in the capital of France. This time 84 Indian athletes are participating in the Games running from August 28 to September 9. This is India's largest contingent in these Games so far. India will participate in 12 events this time. It's time we look at India's Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 11 (September 8) schedule.
Indian competitors have surpassed their previous record of 19 medals from the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 as they have already brought 27 medals to India including 6 Golds.
So, let us tell you in detail which sports Indian para-athletes will be seen in action on Day 11.
Catch all the LIVE actions of India at Paralympics 2024 Day 10 (September 7) as Indian Para-Athletes continue their historical campaign in Paris.
India till now have surapssed their best Paralympic record ever with 27 medals including a record 6 Gold medals at Paralympics 2024. On Day 9, Praveen Kumar won India's 6th gold as India registerted their best-ever performance surpassing Tokyo's 5 Golds.
With Suyash Jadhav competing in the Men's 50m Butterfly S7, Navdeep in Men's Javeling Throw F41 Final and other athletes competing in Cycling and Canoe, India can hope for at least one or two medals and can get close to that 30-medal mark today.
India at Paralympics 2024: Day 10 (September 7) Schedule
After the Paris Olympics 2024, players have once again started gathering in Paris for the Paralympic Games. It's time we look at India's Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 10 (September 7) schedule.
After theParis Olympics 2024, players have once again started gathering in Paris for the Paralympic Games. TheParis Paralympics 2024has been inaugurated on Wednesday in the capital of France. This time 84 Indian athletes are participating in the Games running from August 28 to September 9. This is India's largest contingent in these Games so far. India will participate in 12 events this time. It's time we look at India's Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 10 (September 7) schedule.
This time Indian athletes will compete for the first time in Para-cycling, Para-judo, and Para-rowing in the Paralympic Games. They will also try their best in Para-Archery, Para-Cycling, Para-Taekwondo, Para Swimming, and Para Table Tennis events.
Indian competitors have surpassed their previous record of 19 medals from the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 as they have already brought 26 medals to India including 6 Golds.
So, let us tell you in detail which sports Indian para-athletes will be seen in action on Day 10.
Follow Us
1960 Rome
1964 Tokyo
1968 Tel Aviv
1972 Heidelberg
1976 Toronto
1980 Arnhem
/ 
1984 Stoke Mandeville / New York
1988 Seoul
1992 Barcelona
2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
2008 Beijing
2016 Rio de Janeiro
2024 Paris
/sportzpoint/media/media_files/WpCpN9mb8EAdrEbnZRkC.jpg)
/sportzpoint/media/media_files/qxvRhKx85us1bMg5OrKF.jpg)
/sportzpoint/media/media_files/AjRu5aO8nq5el2T2VHod.jpeg)
/sportzpoint/media/media_files/2vEeJKGLz4H5iHljbDA0.png)
/sportzpoint/media/media_files/6lCwVpLE1Ph3It6wRuCO.webp)
