The 2024 Paris Paralympics concluded with historic achievements for India, as the country celebrated its best-ever performance by winning 29 medals, including 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze.
India’s Women Shine Bright
India’s female athletes played a pivotal role, earning a total of 11 medals across individual and mixed events, significantly improving upon their achievements from previous Paralympic Games. Notably, three women—Preethi Pal, Deepthi Jeevanji, and Simran—made history by winning India’s first-ever sprint medals at the Paralympics. Preethi Pal won two bronze medals in the 100m and 200m T35 events, while Jeevanji and Simran bagged bronze in the 400m T20 and 200m T12 events, respectively. Additionally, Kapil Parmar earned India its first medal in blind judo, and Harvinder Singh secured the country’s first Paralympic gold in archery. India’s exceptional performance in athletics also propelled them to finish 18th in the overall medal standings, surpassing their Tokyo 2020 achievements.
China’s Unrivaled Dominance
China extended its Paralympic dominance for the sixth consecutive time, finishing atop the medal table with a staggering 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze medals, totaling 220 medals. Much of their success came from para-swimming and para-athletics, contributing 103 medals in these two sports alone. China has maintained its supremacy in the Paralympics since 2004, and its extraordinary performance in Paris continues to highlight its unparalleled strength.
France’s Triumph on Home Soil
The host nation, France, enjoyed massive home support, notably in events like blind football, where their team clinched a historic gold. At various venues, including La Chapelle, French athletes thrived under the enthusiastic backing of their fans, with nearly 2.5 million tickets sold for the Paralympic Games. The passionate crowd played a significant role in lifting local athletes, making France’s home advantage a key factor in their top 10 finish on the medal table.
India’s remarkable achievements, China’s unparalleled reign, and France’s enthusiastic home support defined the Paris 2024 Paralympics, setting new standards for the upcoming 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
