India’s Impressive Medal Haul at Asian Para Games 2023
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Indian athletes have been making their mark at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games 2023, steadily climbing the medals tally and earning accolades for their outstanding performances. The third day of the competition saw reigning Paralympics champion Sumit Antil achieving a new world record and clinching a gold medal in the javelin throw F64 event, with a spectacular throw covering a distance of 73.29 meters.
For India, this day proved to be the most fruitful, as they secured a total of 24 medals, with 17 of them being gold, and all six gold medals were contributed by the field of athletics.
As the competition reached its midpoint, India stood at the sixth position in the overall standings. The Indian contingent had accumulated an impressive collection of 15 gold medals, 20 silver medals, and 29 bronze medals. This put them behind countries such as China, Iran, Japan, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.
The Indian dominance was notably highlighted in the men’s F54/55/56 discus throw event, where Indian athletes swept all three medals. Neeraj Yadav led the way, securing the gold medal with a remarkable throw of 38.56 meters, setting a new Games and Asian record. Yogesh Kathuniya and Muthuraja claimed the second and third positions, respectively, in this event.
Ankur Dhama made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games. He triumphed in the men’s T11 1500m race, clocking a time of 4:27.70. This achievement followed his gold medal victory in the men’s T11 5000m race on the previous day.
Sundar Singh Gurjar added to India’s glory by setting a new world record in the men’s F46 javelin throw event, reaching a distance of 68.60 meters. This incredible performance surpassed the earlier world record held by Dinesh Mudiyanselage Herath of Sri Lanka, which stood at 67.79 meters. Notably, Indians claimed all three medals in this event, with Rinku and Ajeet Singh securing the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In the women’s T11 1500m event, it was a one-two victory for India. Rakshitha Raju and Killaka Lalitha clinched the gold and silver medals, respectively. Rakshitha had previously won a gold medal in the same event during the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta.
India’s success extended to various events, including the men’s F37/38 javelin throw and women’s T47 long jump. Haney and Nimisha Suresh Chakkungalparambil added gold medals to India’s tally, with Haney setting a Games record of 55.97 meters, while Nimisha achieved a distance of 5.15 meters in the long jump.
Other Indian athletes contributed to the medal count by securing silver and bronze medals in events like men’s T35 200m, men’s T37 200m, men’s T13 1500m, and men’s F47 shot put. Sharath Shankarappa Makanahalli and Balwant Singh Rawat secured silver and bronze in the men’s T13 1500m race, while Rana Soman and Hokato Hotozhe Sema claimed the second and third positions in the men’s F47 shot put event.
In para table tennis, Bhavina Patel, a Tokyo Paralympics medallist, won a bronze medal in women’s singles Class 4, adding to India’s impressive haul of medals. Para archery also saw Indian success with two silver medals and a bronze, with Sheetal Devi, Sarita, Rakesh Kumar, and Suraj Singh making the nation proud.
The para-badminton category featured Pramod Bhagat and Manisha Ramdass, who secured a bronze in mixed doubles SL3-SU5. In para powerlifting, Zainab Khatun and Rajkumari added to India’s medal count with a silver and a bronze in the women’s 61kg category.
The Indian contingent continues to impress at the Asian Para Games, showcasing exceptional talent and determination, and the nation eagerly awaits further successes in the days to come.
