Paris 2023 Worlds: Indian Para-athletes record best ever finish

Highlighted by Paralympic Champion Sumit Antil’s world record show, the Indian team returned home from the Paris 2023 World Para Athletics Championships with 10 medals, that included three gold, and 17 quota places for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

This was India’s best-ever show at a World Para Athletics Championships surpassing the mark at Dubai 2019 Worlds that had nine medals. India had five medals in World Para Athletics Championships London 2017. 

Not just by medals, new stars emerged at Paris 2023 who registered their personal best, won their first ever medals and joined the seasoned names among the top performers. There were women winners too, who won both medals and quotas, to leave a mark at the championships.

Overall Team India finished in 19th place at Paris 2023 with China on top with 45 medals that had 16 gold. Brazil (47) and United States (39) followed China with 14 and 10 gold medals, respectively.

Antil, who competed in his first major competition since his record-breaking performance at Tokyo 2020, put up an incredible show to add a Worlds gold to his Paralympic gold at the Charlety Stadium, Paris. The 25-year-old from Sonepat went on to improve his own world record mark with a throw of 70.83m, finishing ahead of Australian Michal Burian (65.21) and Sri Lanka's Dulan Kodithuwakku (64.06) in F44 categories.

“Being a world champion with a new world record is something I am really proud of!!! Thank you everyone for your love and support!!! JAI HIND,” tweeted the Paralympic and world champion, who has a silver from the Dubai 2019 Worlds.  

Antil’s show was followed up by his fellow thrower Ajeet Singh and Rinku Hooda taking the 1-2 positions in men’s javelin F46 finals.

Singh impressed by hurling his javelin to 65.41m for a new championship record while Hooda was just 0.3m behind getting his season’s best. Dubai 2019 world champion Sundar Singh Gurjar settled for the fourth place, fetching India a quota place.

Maharashtra-based Sachin Khilari’s powerful throw of 16.21m in men’s shot put F46 was enough to fetch him his first international medal, a World title with an Asian record.

Paralympic medallist Yogesh Kathuniya's effort of 43.17m fetch him a silver medal in the men’s discus throw F56 finals.  He finished behind Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos in a repeat of Tokyo 2020 result.

Apart from the javelin throwers, the high jumpers too made a mark with Paralympic medallists Nishad Kumar (T47), Shailesh Kumar (T63) and Praveen Kumar (T64) taking the silver and bronze medals.

Nishad, in fact, went on to set a new Asian record on his way taking the silver with an effort of 2.09m.

Among others, seasoned Ekta Bhyan (17.9 3m) claimed a bronze medal with an Asian record in women’s club throw F51, while Pooja emerged as the new name in women’s javelin F54 final with a personal best throw of 14.70m.

There were several others who missed out on the medal but earned India quota places for Paris 2024 Paralympcis - Thangavelu Mariyappan (Men's High Jump T42), Navdeep (Men's Javelin Throw F41), Soman Rana (Men's Shot Put F57), Dilip Mahadu Gavit (Men's 400m T46), Bhagyashri Mahavrao Jadhav (Women's Shot Put F34), Kashish Lakra (Women's Club Throw F51).

Team India’s terrific show also earned accolades from the Sports Minister Anurag Thakur who tweeted saying: “India’s dominance shone bright with 3 Gold, 4 Silver 3 Bronze 
and setting of new benchmarks with 2 World Records, 2 Championships Records, 6 Asian Records. The performance solidified our position as a force to be reckoned with 
and the 16 quotas secured for #Paris2024 @Paralympics pave the way for a promising future 

“Terrific Effort! They have proven their mettle and demonstrated the indomitable spirit of Indian #ParaAthletics. The entire nation is super proud of their accomplishments! ”

Elated on the team’s performance, Paralympic Committee of India President Dr. Deepa Malik said: “We are very proud of our athletes’ show at Paris 2023 Worlds, one of the biggest competitions this year. It was a testament of their hard work and determination to bring glory for the nation. It also proved that our preparations for the Paris 2024 Paralympics are on the right track. Our para-athletes have not just grown in confidence through this performance but are raring to be at next year’s biggest extravaganza – the Paralympics.

“Paris 2023 also witnessed many new stars as for some of them, the medal was their first ever. Women participation has also increased, and they are winning medals too. We are hopeful that our players continue to strive for excellence through their training and hard work.”

Gursharan Singh, PCI Secretary General, added: “The last 10 days have been amazing with our players producing incredible performances to make it one of the best World Championships. We saw many new winners who rose in confidence and brought home medals and quota places. We hope they can continue this momentum to the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.”