Paris Paralympics 2024: India’s Medalists Light Up the Stage
Nita Ambani, the Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, congratulated India’s Paralympic medalists at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal, Preethi Pal, and Manish Narwal.
“Heartiest congratulations to Avani Lekhara, Mona Agarwal, Preethi Pal, and Manish Narwal for their historic achievements at the Paris Paralympics 2024! Your gold, silver, and bronze medals kick-start India’s Paralympic campaign with pride and fill every Indian’s heart with immense joy. Your strength, spirit, and skill inspire the entire nation. More power to all our athletes and best wishes for the Games ahead! Jai Hind!” said Nita Ambani.
Avani Lekhara has etched her name in history by becoming the first Indian to clinch consecutive Paralympic gold medals. Her record-breaking score of 249.7 in the women’s 10m air rifle (SH1) event is a testament to her unparalleled skill and determination. This achievement not only surpasses her previous record set in Tokyo but also sets a new benchmark for future athletes. Mona Agarwal’s bronze in the same event marks the first time India has secured two medals in a single shooting event at the Paralympics, further adding to our nation’s pride.
Preethi Pal has brought glory to India by earning our first athletics medal in a Paralympic track event. Her bronze in the women’s T35 100m race, clocking a personal best time of 14.21 seconds, is a testament to her hard work and dedication. This achievement not only marks a significant milestone in her career but also inspires hope for the future of Indian athletics.
Manish Narwal, who won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, secured silver in the men’s 10m air pistol (SH1) event. Despite leading for much of the competition, Narwal eventually fell behind due to poor scores, allowing South Korea’s Jo Jeongdu to take the gold.
In badminton, Suhas Yathiraj and Nitesh Kumar have continued to shine with their strong performance. Suhas, a 2007 batch IAS officer, won his second match against Korea’s Shin Kyung Hwan in the men’s singles SL4 category, while Nitesh, an IIT Mandi graduate, dominated China’s Yang Jianyuan in the men’s singles SL3 category. Their impressive performances have not only made India proud but also instilled hope for a bright future in Indian badminton.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a great day for Manasi Joshi and Manoj Sarkar. Manasi, the 2019 World Champion, lost her second match in the women’s singles SL3 category, ending her chances of advancing. Manoj also faced setbacks, losing both matches so far in the men’s singles SL3 category, which means he will not advance to the semifinals.
In mixed doubles, the Indonesian pair defeated Nitesh and Thulasimathi Murugesan, and Suhas Yathiraj and Palak Kohli lost their match against France’s Lucas Mazur and Faustine Noel.
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The SL4 class is for athletes with lower limb impairments and minor balance issues, while the SL3 class is for those with more severe lower limb disabilities, competing on a half-width court. The SU5 class includes athletes with upper limb impairments.