The first batch of the Indian contingent, including star javelin thrower Sumit Antil, has departed for the Paris Paralympics. The team, consisting of 16 para athletes, will spend a few days acclimatizing in Paris before moving into the Games Village on August 25. Antil, aiming to defend his gold medal, and other athletes will train at the nearby Nelson Mandela Sports Complex, which features top-notch facilities.
Para athletics events will be held from August 30 to September 8 at Stade de France. Indian para-athletics head coach Satyanarayana expressed confidence in achieving at least five gold medals and a total of 12 medals, building on the team’s success at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan.
India, sending its largest-ever team of 84 athletes across 12 sports, aims to surpass its record 19 medals from the Tokyo 2021 Paralympics. Devendra Jhajharia, President of the Paralympic Committee of India, has set a target of at least 25 medals.
Antil and Bhagyashree Jadhav, who earned silver at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, will be India’s flag bearers at the Opening Ceremony, which will take place outdoors from Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde for the first time.
