Tokyo Paralympics 2020: India's Record-Breaking Medal Haul

The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 witnessed a historic performance from the Indian contingent, shattering previous records and reaching unprecedented heights. With 54 athletes representing the nation, it was India's largest ever team at the Games, building on the success of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, where Indian athletes had secured seven medals.

The Tokyo Paralympics saw India's athletes deliver a performance that captivated the nation, resulting in a double-digit medal tally for the first time ever. The podium finishes were plentiful, with multiple medals won by Indian athletes in several events.

Indian Medallists at Tokyo Paralympics 2020

The Indian contingent secured an impressive 19 medals, won by 18 athletes. Shooter Avani Lekhara achieved a landmark feat, becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Paralympics. She also became only the second Indian after Joginder Singh Bedi, who won three medals at the Stoke Mandeville/New York 1984 games, to achieve multiple medals in a single edition of the Paralympic Games.

India's previous best medal tally at the Paralympics was four, achieved both in Rio 2016 and Stoke Mandeville/New York 1984. The medallists from Tokyo Paralympics are listed below:

| S.No | Athlete | Medal | Event | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bhavina Patel | Silver | Women’s singles table tennis | Class 4 |
| 2. | Nishad Kumar | Silver | Men’s high jump | T47 |
| 3. | Avani Lekhara | Gold | Women’s 10m air rifle shooting standing | SH1 |
| 4. | Devendra Jhajharia | Silver | Men’s javelin throw | F46 |
| 5. | Sundar Singh Gurjar | Bronze | Men’s javelin throw | F46 |
| 6. | Yogesh Kathuniya | Silver | Men’s discus throw | F56 |
| 7. | Sumit Antil | Gold | Men’s javelin throw | F64 |
| 8. | Singhraj Adhana | Bronze | Men’s 10m air pistol shooting | SH1 |
| 9. | Mariyappan Thangavelu | Silver | Men’s high jump | T42 |
| 10. | Sharad Kumar | Bronze | Men’s high jump | T42 |
| 11. | Praveen Kumar | Silver | Men’s high jump | T64 |
| 12. | Avani Lekhara | Bronze | Women’s 50m rifle 3 positions shooting | SH1 |
| 13. | Harvinder Singh | Bronze | Men’s individual recurve | Open archery |
| 14. | Manish Narwal | Gold | Men’s 50m pistol | SH1 |
| 15. | Singhraj Adhana | Silver | Men’s 50m pistol | SH1 |
| 16. | Pramod Bhagat | Gold | Men’s singles badminton | SL3 |
| 17. | Manoj Sarkar | Bronze | Men’s singles badminton | SL3 |
| 18. | Suhas Yathiraj | Silver | Men’s singles badminton | SL4 |
| 19. | Krishna Nagar | Gold | Men’s singles badminton | SH6 |

India’s Final Medal Tally at Tokyo Paralympics 2020

India's first medal at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 was won by Bhavina Patel in the women's singles table tennis Class 4 category. She secured silver after a close final against the then world No. 1 Zhou Ying of China.

India's final medal, the 19th, was won by Krishna Nagar in the men's singles badminton SH6 category. He triumphed over Hong Kong's Chu Man Kai in the final, dropping only a single game on his path to gold.

| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Tokyo | 5 | 8 | 6 | 19 |

The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 will be remembered as a turning point for Indian para-sports, highlighting the talent and determination of India's athletes on the global stage.