In the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics, India scripted history by clinching 4 medals in 1 hour. Paralympian Avani Lekhara, Yogesh Khatuniya, Devendra Jhajharia & Sunder Gurjar made India country proud by clinching a gold, two silvers, and a bronze respectively.

Thanks to the overall exceptional performance by Indian contingent in this year’s Paralympics, India has already exceeded its best ever medal tally with a total of 7 medals so far.

The achievement is all the more glorious, as earlier the Indian contingent of the Tokyo Olympics had its biggest medal haul ever (7 medals – 1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze).

Contents hide
1. Details
2. 1, 2, 3 Medals: A Brief Recap of National Sports Day
3. Historic Day 5 Begins – Can India Outdo 3 Medals in a Day?
4. Avani Lekhara Emulates Abhinav Bindra to Clinch Gold
5. Yogesh Kathuniya’s Throw Brings Back Silver
6. Devendra Jhajharia’s Silver and Sundar Gurjar’s Bronze

Details

It started off as a Paralympics which promised to be a forgettable one for India. The first couple of days saw Indian paddlers losing their matches and thrown into knock out stages. After the high of the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Indian sports fans itched for a victory, a medal, a reason to stand up for the national anthem. And they got just that.

Also Read: Amit Khatri Wins Silver for India in U-20 World Athletics Meet Championship

1, 2, 3 Medals: A Brief Recap of National Sports Day

Bhavina Patel Secure Medal

Bhavina Patel Secure Medal

It all started with Bhavina Patel scripting history by being the first Indian table-tennis Paralympian to win a silver medal at the Paralympics. On India’s National Sports Day, August 29, Patel played against China’s top-seed Zhou Ying, with a silver medal already secured. Although in the end, Ying won, Patel opened India’s kicked off India’s medal hunt.

Nishad Kumar

Nishad Kumar

The second medal came on the same day as Nishad Kumar scratched another silver in the Men’s High Jump competition. Coming close to the target of 2.16m height, Kumar registered his personal best of 2.06m to clinch the silver.

Vinod Kumar

Vinod Kumar

Registering the hattrick of medals, India’s third medal came in the form of Vinod Kumar’s bronze medal in discus throw. The 41-year-old veteran Paralympian threw a monstrous 19.91m to clinch the bronze.

Also Read: Tokyo Paralympics: Bhavina Patel Pulls Off Upset, Becomes 1st TT Player to Secure Medal for India

Historic Day 5 Begins – Can India Outdo 3 Medals in a Day?

3 medals in one day, it seemed too good to be true. However, Indian Paralympians were barely scratching the surface of the best. August 30, Monday, the Paralympians were expected to add a medal or two and continue India’s medal haul. However, the talented mavericks brought home not one or two, but four medals – that too, within the span of one hour.

Avani Lekhara Emulates Abhinav Bindra to Clinch Gold

Avani Lekhara

Avani Lekhara

If Abhinav Bindra’s 2008 Gold Medal in shooting created a wave of frenzy around Indian athletes, Avani Lekhara’s 2020 Gold Medal in shooting at the Tokyo Paralympics will be the catalyst in the Paralympian movement in nation.

The young 19-year-old Paralympian may not have as many years behind her back, but she she’s still the best among the best and is currently in the 5th position in 10 m air rifle shooting. Her gold medal must be considered all the more special as it was her first ever Paralympics performance.

Setting the Paralympic record by registering an impressive 149.6, Avani also came close to breaking the world record. After her victory, the entire nation lauded her with PM Modi acknowledging her “industrious nature and passion towards shooting”.

Also Read: PM Modi’s Meet over Breakfast with Olympians: Freshly Churned Churma For Neeraj, Ice-cream For Sindhu and Many More

Yogesh Kathuniya’s Throw Brings Back Silver

Yogesh Kathuniya

Yogesh Kathuniya

India’s second medal came of August 30 came with discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya throwing a monstrous 44.38m at the Men’s F56 category. The quadriparesis survivor was sure to win the gold, but his Brazilian opponent had a throw of 45.59m to win the gold.

Devendra Jhajharia’s Silver and Sundar Gurjar’s Bronze

Devendra Jhajharia

Devendra Jhajharia

Devendra Jhajharia hunger for medal is bar none. With 2 Paralympic medals in his bag already, Jhajharia entered the javelin throwing competition eying a gold. The 40-year-old Athens and Rio Olympics medalist threw his personal best throw of 64.35m. However, he was bested by his Sri Lankan counterpart who took the gold home by throwing 67.79m and Jhajharia had to settle for silver.

Sunder Gurjar

Sunder Gurjar

In the same event where experienced Devendra was fighting for gold, debutant Sundar Singh Gurjar stunned everyone. Gurjar threw a massive throw of 64.01m to outshine other competitors to share the podium along with Jhajharia and displaying the bronze medal.