The Olympics may be done and dusted, but another Indian contingent is off to Brazil again, hoping to do better. A contingent of 19 athletes, comprising three women and 16 men, the largest-ever sent from the country, will represent India at the 2016 Paralympics, slated to begin from September 7.

At the London edition in 2012, a ten-member squad had participated in four events. This time, Indians will participate in nine different events which include swimming, high jump, discus throw, running and javelin throw, among others.

India at the Paralympics

India made its debut in the third Paralympics in 1968, held in Tel-Aviv. They participated in the 1972 edition and were then absent from the event for 12 years. However, India returned in 1984 and won four medals. Joginder Singh Bedi won two bronze medals and a silver in the javelin, discus throw and shot put events, respectively. Bhimrao Kesarkar also won silver in the javelin throw.

Advertisement

India's first Paralympic gold came in the 1972 edition at Heidelberg, where Murlikant Petkar won the 50 metre freestyle swimming event. After the 1984 Games, India won two medals at the 2004 edition in Athens. Devendra Jhajharia won gold in the javelin throw, while Rajinder Singh Rahelu won a bronze in the 56 kg weightlifting category.

At the London Paralympics in 2012, India won just one medal, with Girisha Nagarajegowda taking silver in the men’s high jump.

Here is the full Indian contingent

  • Mariyappan Thangavelu (high jump)
  • Varun Singh Bhati (high jump)
  • Pooja (archery)
  • Sharad Kumar (high jump)
  • Rampal Chahar (high jump)
  • Sundar Singh Gurjar (javelin)
  • Devendra Jhajaria (javelin)
  • Rinku (javelin)
  • Narender Ranbir (javelin)
  • Sandeep (javelin)
  • Amit Kumar Saroha (club throw)
  • Deepa Malik (shot put)
  • Dharambir (club throw)
  • Ankur Dhama (1500 metres)
  • Basha Farman (powerlifting)
  • Suyash Narayan Jadhav (swimming)
  • Naresh Kumar Sharma (shooting)
  • Karamjyoti Dalal (discus throw)
  • Virender Dhanker (shotput, javelin throw)