Life has been harsh for some people. But that doesn’t stop them from striving to be the best they can be. Some are meant to achieve the heights of success. For these Paralympics athletes though, things were far from ideal when they tread out on the path to greatness in their domain. Here is an updated list of Indian Paralympian medalists from Tokyo Paralympics 2020 :
1. Sumit Antil – Gold medal winner in Men’s javelin throw F64. Three weeks ago, Neeraj Chopra won India’s first-ever gold in athletics at Tokyo Olympics 2020 also in the javelin throw. Now Sumit Antil smashes the men’s javelin F64 world record and takes first Para Athletics Gold for Paralympic India on Monday. During school days in an unfortunate bike accident, Sumit lost his left leg below the knee.
2. Avani Lekhara – Gold medal winner in Women’s 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1. Shooter Avani Lekhara made India proud as she became the first-ever woman to won gold at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 on Monday. A car accident in 2012 left Avani Lekhara wheelchair-bound and was inspired to take up shooting after reading Abhinav Bindra’s autobiography where he detailed the Olympic journey.
3. Sundar Singh Gujrar – Bronze medal winner in Men’s javelin throw F46. He made it to the top 3 after a fight and finished with a bronze medal in the javelin throw F46 category at the Tokyo Paralympics. On an unfortunate day, Sundar Singh setting up a tin shed at his friend’s house. He injured the palm of his left hand. The injury was so severe that later his palm had to be removed from his body. It was a tough time for Sundar, but he did not give up and went ahead with a strong mind.
4. Bhavina Patel – Silver medal winner in Women’s singles table tennis Class 4. Bhavina Patel opened India’s account at the Tokyo Paralympics by winning a silver medal in class 4 table tennis on 29 August. When she was just 12 months old, her family got to know that she was suffering from poliomyelitis.
5. Nishad Kumar – Silver medal winner in Men’s high jump T47. Nishad Kumar set an Asian record of 2.06 meters and clinched a silver medal on 29 August and gave India the second medal in the Tokyo Paralympics 2021.
6. Yogesh Kathuniya – Silver medal winner in Men’s discus throw F56. He narrowly missed the Gold and finished with a silver medal in the discus throw on 30 August. At the age of eight, he suffered a paralytic attack which left him with coordination impairments in his limbs.
7. Devendra Jhajaria – Silver wining Men’s javelin thrower F46. Devendra Jhajaria missed out on his 3rd gold and had to settle for a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics. He lost his left arm at the age of eight while climbing a tree and accidentally got electrated.
8. Singhraj Adhana – Bronze medal winner in Men’s 10m air pistol shooting SH1. On Tuesday, Singhraj gave the nation proud moments by winning the bronze medal in the men’s 10m air pistol event.
9. Mariyappan Thangvelu – Silver medal winner in Men’s high jump T42. When he was only five, on his way to school and met with an accident and suffered permanent disability after being run over by a drunk bus driver. And his knee was crushed.
10. Sharad Kumar – Bronze medal winner in Men’s high jump T42. Sharad’s left leg was paralysed due to spurious polio medicine at the age of two.
