Paralympics 2024 : Paris is once again in the spotlight as it hosts the Paralympics 2024. which kicked off on Thursday. On the opening day, India para-shuttlers made a strong start. T Murugesan and K Nitesh secured a 21-14, 21-17 victory over S Yathiraj and P Kohli in a mixed doubles SL/GU Group A match, featuring an all-Indian clash. Mandeep Kaur faced a defeat.
This year, India boasts its largest-ever contingent for the Paralympics, with 84 para-athletes, including 32 women, compared to 54 athletes at Tokyo 2020, where 14 were women. For the first time, India will compete in three new sports: para-cycling, para-rowing, and blind judo, increasing its participation to 12 events. The Paris Games feature a total of 22 sports disciplines, showcasing a broad range of athletic talent.
Here is the full schedule for Day 1-
Para Swimming:
- Women’s doubles 1:30 PM onwards
- Men’s doubles 1:30 pm onwards
- Mixed doubles 1:30 pm onwards
Para-Taekwondo:
Women’s K4447kg 1:30 pm onwards
Para Shooting:
- Women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 preevent training 2:30 pm
- Mixed 10m air rifle standing SH2 preevent training 4:00 pm
- Men’s 10m air pistol SH1 preevent training 5:45 pm
Para Cycling:
Women’s C13 3000m individual pursuit qualifying 4:25 pm
Para Archery:
- Women’s individual compound open ranking round 4:30 pm
- Men’s individual recurve open ranking round 4:30 pm
- Men’s individual compound open ranking round 8:30 pm
- Women’s individual recurve open ranking round 8:30 pm
Paralympics Day 1 results-
Para Badminton:
- T Murugesan-K Nitesh seal 21-14 21-17 win vs S Yathiraj-P Kohli in mixed doubles SL/SU Group A match
- Mandeep Kaur loses to Nigeria’s Mariam Bolaji 21-8 21-14 in their Women’s Singles SL3 Group B fixture
- S Solaimalai-NS Sivan lose 21-23 11-21 to J Simon-M Krajewski in Mixed Doubles SH6 Group B fixture
Paralympics 2024: Archer Sheetal Devi, Taekwondo Star Aruna Tanwar to Launch India’s Campaign
Paris, August 28: India \ largest-ever Paralympic contingent is set to make a historic debut in the French capital as the Paralympics 2024 kicks off on Thursday. The opening day will feature action from badminton, archery, and table tennis, with India’s athletes gearing up to make their mark in the preliminary rounds. Sixteen-year-old para-archer Sheetal Devi will be among the first to compete, taking part in the Women’s Individual Compound Open Ranking Round alongside fellow Indian archer Sarita.
Sheetal, renowned for her impressive skill in archery using her legs and mouth, clinched two gold and one silver medal at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year. Hailing from Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, she aims for a top seeding in the Open Ranking round. In men’s compound archery, Rakesh Kumar will begin his campaign in the men’s individual compound open ranking round.
Rakesh, who narrowly missed a medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, is determined to secure his first medal in Paris. He has a strong track record, including multiple medals at the Fazza Para Archery World Ranking event, a gold medal in the Mixed Team section at the World Para Archery Championship 2023, and gold and two silver medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
Also starting their campaigns are Harvinder Singh in men’s recurve individual, Shyam Sundar Swami in men’s compound individual, and Pooja in women’s recurve open individual. In para-badminton, India’s top contenders including Sukant Kadam, Manoj Sarkar, Suhas Yathiraj, Manasi Joshi, Tarun Dhillon, Nitesh Kumar, Thulasimathi Murugesan, Manish Ramdass and Palak Kohli will compete in their respective Group Stage matches, aiming to advance through the tournament.
Aruna Tanwar, India’s main hope in para-taekwondo, will enter the Women’s K44-47 kg category. She will start with a Round of 16 match against Nurcihan Ekinci of Turkey. A victory in her opening bout will see her progress to the quarterfinals. With this diverse and talented contingent, India is poised to make a significant impact at the 2024 Paralympics, showcasing their determination and skill across various sports.
Paralympics 2024: Sukant Kadam and the Painstaking Art of Going with the Flow
Sukant Kadam journey to the Paralympics is a testament to resilience and determination. Once a promising cricketer, Kadam path took a dramatic turn due to a life-altering knee injury. Despite enduring multiple surgeries that left him with a permanent impairment in his left leg, his spirit remained uncrushed and his new path has led him to his first Paralympic Games in Paris.
The injury was a devastating blow to Kadam’s budding cricket career. My family strictly removed me from sports. I was allowed to watch but not participate,” Kadam shared with Sport star. Forced to shift his focus an he found a solace in pursuing an engineering degree. which though not his initial passion to became a new avenue for him to explore his interests in sports once again.
I was never prepared for education,” Kadam chuckled, reflecting on his unexpected academic journey. My extracurricular activities were my main focus and studying felt like the extra. It was quite the shift from what I was used to. His move to pursue engineering outside his hometown of Kautholi in Maharashtra opened new doors for him. In this new environment, he was introduced to a wider range of sports.
The turning point came during the 2012 London Olympics, when Kadam, then an engineering student, was captivated by the achievements of Indian athletes. Sania Nehwal bronze medal in badminton and Girisha Nagaraje gowda silver in the Paralympic high jump ignited a new passion within him. Watching those events made me realize there was a whole world of para sports that I hadn’t known about,” Kadam said.
Inspired by these role models, Kadam decided to channel his energy into badminton. Despite the setback of not being selected for his college team—a fact he humorously notes with his college friends—he continued to pursue the sport with fervor. “My friends still joke about how they made a mistake by not picking me. They say, ‘Ab bolna band karde bhai, galti ho gayi Stop bringing it up, brother. We made a mistake, Kadam recalled with a smile.
Even though his college peers have moved on to corporate careers and family life, they remain proud of Kadam’s achievements. I am probably the only one who stuck with sports. They’re all so happy and proud of me. They often tell me I am living their dream through my sports journey,” Kadam said.
Kadam story reflects a journey of transformation and triumph over adversity. From a cricket field to the badminton court, his path to the Paralympics has been marked by perseverance and a relentless pursuit of his dreams. As he steps into the spotlight in Paris, Kadam embodies the spirit of overcoming challenges and embracing new possibilities with unwavering determination.
