India surpassed its Tokyo Paralympic gold medal tally after Praveen Kumar won the men’s high jump T64 event at the ongoing Paris Paralympics on Friday. Clearing 2.08m, Praveen secured the country’s sixth gold medal and improved upon his silver from the Tokyo Games, earning his second consecutive Paralympic medal.
Dharambir added to the gold count by setting an Asian record with a 34.92m throw in the men’s club throw F51 final, securing India’s fifth gold—matching the gold tally from Tokyo.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, India had won five gold, six silver, and eight bronze medals. In Paris, the nation achieved its best-ever haul at a single edition of the Paralympic Games, winning five gold, eight silver, and 10 bronze medals.
Avani Lekhara defended her women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 Paralympic title, claiming India’s first gold in Paris. Nitesh Kumar secured the second gold in para badminton men’s singles SL3, beating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 in a thrilling final.
Sumit Antil won India’s third gold medal with a Paralympic record throw of 70.59m in the men’s javelin throw F64. Harvinder Singh made history by winning India’s first-ever gold in para archery, defeating Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek 6-0 in the men’s individual recurve open final, earning India its fourth gold medal in Paris.