On Day 6 of the Paris Paralympics, India reached a new milestone by securing 20 medals, surpassing their previous record of 19 medals from the Tokyo Paralympics. This achievement was possible due to outstanding performances by Indian track and field athletes, who won 3 gold, 7 silver, and 10 bronze medals.
Highlights of Day 6
Success in Javelin Throw F46
Indian javelin throwers Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar won silver and bronze medals in the F46 category with throws of 65.62m and 64.96m, respectively. The F46 category is for athletes with moderate impairment in one or both arms or the absence of limbs.
High Jump T63 Achievements
In the men’s high jump T63 final, Rio Paralympics gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu won bronze, becoming the first Indian to win three Paralympic medals. He cleared a height of 1.85m, while his fellow competitor Sharad Kumar secured silver with a jump of 1.88m. The T63 category is for athletes with moderate impairment in one leg or the absence of limbs above the knee.
Deepthi Jeevanji’s Bronze in 400m T20
Deepthi Jeevanji, making her debut in Paris Paralympics, won a bronze medal in the women’s 400m T20 event with a time of 55.82 seconds. She hails from Kalleda Village in Telangana’s Warangal district and has overcome significant challenges, including intellectual impairment, to achieve this feat. The T20 category is for athletes with intellectual impairment.
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Other Notable Performances
Avani Lekhara’s Shooting Performance
Indian shooter Avani Lekhara, who became the first Indian woman to win back-to-back Paralympic gold medals, finished fifth in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition. Despite missing out on a second medal, her earlier victory in the 10m air rifle competition remains a significant achievement.
Bhagyashri Jadhav’s Shot Put Effort
Bhagyashri Jadhav, competing in her second Paralympics, finished fifth in the women’s shot put F34 with a throw of 7.28m. Though she missed the podium, her story of resilience continues to inspire.
Archer Pooja’s Quarterfinal Exit
Archer Pooja Jatyan advanced to the quarterfinals in the recurve women’s open archery competition after defeating Yagmur Sengul of Turkey. However, she was unable to maintain her lead and lost to Wu Chunyan of China in the last-eight stage. Despite the loss, Pooja’s performance remains commendable.
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