Let’s look at India’s place in the world of Paralympics!
India made its Paralympic debut at the 1968 Paralympics. After participating in 1968 and 1972, India did not compete in the 1976 and 1980 Paralympics. Since 1984, India has consistently participated in every Summer Para Games. Murlikant Petkar secured India's first Paralympic medal in 1972 by winning gold in the men’s 50m freestyle 3 swimming event, setting a new world record with a time of 37.331 seconds. In the 1984 Summer Para Games, India won four medals, including two silver and two bronze. After a 20-year drought, India won two medals (one gold and one bronze) in 2004 but failed to secure any medals in 2008. Since 2012, India has consistently won medals in every edition. Girisha Nagarajegowda earned a silver medal in 2012, and in 2016, India won four medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze).
Devendra Jhajharia, India’s most decorated Paralympian, is the second Indian to win multiple medals at the Paralympics. Competing in the men’s javelin throw F46 category, he has earned two gold medals and one silver. Jhajharia first secured a gold medal in 2004 with a world record throw, making him the second Indian to win gold. In 2016, he achieved another gold, surpassing his own world record and becoming the first Indian to win multiple gold medals. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, he won a silver medal with a personal best throw. Jhajharia was also elected President of the Paralympic Committee of India.
Avani Lekhara made history as the first Indian woman to win multiple Paralympic medals and the second Indian to achieve this in a single edition. She also became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Avani earned one gold and one bronze in shooting, marking her as India’s first shooting medalist. She secured gold in Women’s R2 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 and bronze in Women’s R8 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1. At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, she won gold in Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1.
Joginder Singh Bedi was the first Indian to win multiple Paralympic medals in a single edition. At the 1984 Paralympics, he earned one silver and two bronze medals. He claimed silver in the men's shot put L6 category and bronze in both the men's javelin L6 and men's discus throw L6 categories.
Singhraj Adhana became the fourth Indian to secure multiple Paralympic medals and the third to achieve this in the same edition. He won both a silver and a bronze in shooting. His first medal was bronze in the Men’s P1 10-metre air pistol SH1 event. He followed this with a silver in the Mixed P4 50-metre pistol SH1 category, where his fellow countryman Manish Narwal claimed gold.
Mariyappan was the third Indian to win multiple Paralympic medals. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, he achieved India’s first gold in the men’s high jump F42 category with a jump of 1.89m. In the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, he added a silver medal with a jump of 1.86m in the T63 category. Mariyappan has also been recognized with the Arjuna Award in 2017 and the Major Dhyan Chand Award in 2020.
The Tokyo 2020 Para Games marked a historic achievement for India, with a record 19 medals (five gold, eight silver, and six bronze). Five athletes have won multiple medals for India at the Paralympics. Here’s a look at the top five multiple medalists from India.
