Para sports’ turn for glory at Hangzhou

For a very long time, para sport had largely been uncared for within the nation’s sporting ecosystem. On the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, for example, India despatched simply 5 athletes and returned with zero medals. Eight years on in Rio, 19 Indian Paralympians introduced residence 4 medals, together with two golds.

That will be simply the beginning of the evolving footprint of para sport in India, which stamped its rising presence with a 19-medal present (together with 5 golds) on the Tokyo Paralympics two years in the past. The 111 medals and fifth-place end at Hangzhou, up from 72 medals and the ninth rank within the 2018 version, augurs properly for India’s prospects on the upcoming Paris Paralympics.

India’s para athletes now have entry to higher coaching on the numerous Sports activities Authority of India centres, together with international publicity journeys. Extra importantly, para sport is more and more perceived as a profession possibility for folks with bodily disabilities. Sumit Antil, India’s para javelin thrower who bettered his personal world document in Hangzhou, typifies that. A budding wrestler earlier than a street accident pressured his left leg to be amputated, Antil slipped right into a sea of negativity. Pushed by his mom, Antil obtained into para sport, a time period he hadn’t even heard earlier than which has now made him a Paralympic and Asian champion. There are loads extra such tales and skills on the market.