Indian Para-Athletes Shine with Silver and Bronze at Paris Paralympics

Para-athletes Nishad Kumar and Preethi Pal secured silver and bronze medals for India, respectively, at the Paris Paralympics on Sunday. Shuttler Suhas Yathiraj advanced to the final for the second consecutive time, aiming for another medal. Manisha Ramadass also assured India of a medal, while shooter Avani Lekhara missed out on a podium finish in her favourite event.

India concluded Day 4 ranked 27th with seven medals: one gold, two silver, and four bronze. Preethi made history as the first Indian woman track and field athlete to win two medals at the Paralympics. Nishad Kumar clinched his second consecutive silver in the men's high jump T47 category.

Preethi's Historic Achievement

Preethi, a 23-year-old from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, won bronze in the 200m T35 category with a personal best of 30.01 seconds. She had earlier won bronze in the 100m T35 category. Born with significant physical challenges, her lower body was plastered for six days after birth, leading to weak legs and an irregular leg posture.

Preethi became only the second Indian woman to win two medals in a single Paralympics after shooter Avani Lekhara, who won gold and bronze in Tokyo three years ago. The T35 classification is for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.

Nishad Kumar's Silver Streak

Nishad Kumar, 24, from Una in Himachal Pradesh, secured India's third para-athletics medal and seventh overall at the Paris Paralympics with a season-best jump of 2.04m. He lost his right hand in a grass-cutting machine accident at six years old. Nishad had previously won silver in Tokyo with a jump of 2.06m but faced tough competition from world record holder Townsend Roderick of the USA, who cleared 2.12m to win gold.

Strong Performance by Shuttlers

Suhas Yathiraj is set to become the first Indian shuttler to win back-to-back Paralympic medals after defeating compatriot Sukant Kadam in straight games to reach the men's singles SL4 final. Suhas, a 41-year-old IAS officer from the 2007 batch, beat Sukant 21-17, 21-12.

Nitesh Kumar also guaranteed himself a medal in SL3 by defeating Japan's Daisuke Fujihara 21-16, 21-12 in the semifinal. Manisha Ramadass set up an all-Indian women's singles SU5 semifinal with Thulasimathi Murugesan by defeating Japan's Mamiko Toyoda 21-13, 21-16 in the quarterfinals.

Manisha was born with Erb's palsy affecting her right arm but showed no trouble dispatching her opponent. In SU5 category events, players have upper limb impairments that could affect either hand.

Shooting Range Disappointment

India faced disappointment in shooting as Avani Lekhara failed to qualify for the final after finishing 11th in mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 qualification. Sidhartha Babu finished 28th in the same event. In mixed 10m air rifle prone SH2 qualification, Sriharsha Devaraddi Ramakrishna ended up in 26th place with a total score of 630.2.

Lekhara's scores were: 105.7, 106.0, 104.1, 106.0, 104.8, and 106.2 for a total of 632.8 points. Sidhartha scored: 104.6, 103.8, 105.7, 104.9, 103.6, and 105.7 for an aggregate of 628.3 points across six series.

In SH1 classification events, athletes can hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from standing or sitting positions using wheelchairs or chairs. SH2 athletes cannot hold their rifles independently and use stands but can aim and control their weapons when shooting.

Rakesh Kumar's Archery Success

World No.1 archer Rakesh Kumar advanced to his second consecutive Paralympics quarterfinals in the compound men's open category by defeating Indonesia's Ken Swagumilang in a shoot-off after both were tied at 144-144 following regulation ends.

Rakesh needed nine points to seal victory but slipped with an eight-pointer red-ring shot. In the shoot-off, he held his nerve to shoot a perfect ten while Ken managed only eight points.

India's para-athletes continue to shine on the global stage with their remarkable performances at the Paris Paralympics this year.