Part 2 of 6-part series

Stroy behind India's Para Revolution

In Tokyo Paralympics, India fielded its biggest-ever contingent — 54 athletes in 9 disciplines. Till date India has won 17 medals, including four gold and seven silver. And the medal count is expected to touch 20 by the time the Games will be closed on Sunday (September 5).

The size of the Tokyo contingent is almost three times bigger than the 2016 Rio Paralympics. In Rio, 19 Indians competed and won four medals, including two gold and silver.  
In the 2012 London Paralympics, the size of the Indian contingent was 10 athletes and they won one silver. In 2008, only five Indians competed in the Beijing Paralympics and didn’t win any medal.

“Going by the showing of Indian para-athletes in the world arena in the last couple of years, we are sure of pulling up the best ever performance in the Paralympics in Tokyo,” Arjuna awardee Amit Saroha, 35, had said before leaving for Tokyo. Saroha hails from village Bayanpur in Sonepat district of Haryana and his exploits in international arena got him a job of coach with Sports Authority of India (SAI).

On expected lines, the Indian contingent has come up with its best-ever performance in Paralympics since 1968, when for the first time, India competed in the para quadrennial games.    
The foundation of the Tokyo Paralympics was laid during the 2018 Jakarta Para Asian Games, when India fielded a 193-strong contingent. And India won 72 medals.

In the 2014 edition of the Para Asian Games, India won 33 medals, and before that in 2010, Indian para-athletes won 14 medals.  

“Jakarta was a game changer for the Indian para sports. India competed across 14 disciplines in Jakarta and out of that our athletes won medals in 10 disciplines, which is a clear evidence of growing stature of para sports across disciplines in the country,” Karnataka based para athlete Farman Basha had said. He won his second Asian Games silver medal in powerlifting in Jakarta. He won his first Asian Games medal in 2010. Basha was awarded the Arjuna award in 2008 and is currently working with SAI as a coach.