How Nitesh And Sumit Led India To An 8-Medal Triumph In A Single Day At Paris 2024

Before the Tokyo Paralympics , India 's best performance at a single Games was four medals , achieved twice—first in 1984 and then again in 2016 at Rio de Janeiro. However, the Tokyo Games in 2021 marked a turning point. On August 30, 2021, India set a new record by winning five medals in a single day, including a gold by Sumit Antil in men's javelin. Fast forward three years, and history was rewritten.

On September 2, 2024, India celebrated its most successful day in Paralympic history, securing a total of eight medals, highlighted by Sumit Antil defending his javelin gold in Paris.

Here's a breakdown of how this historic day unfolded:

Silver – Yogesh Kathuniya (Athletics)
Yogesh Kathuniya kicked off the medal haul in men's discus throw F56, earning a silver medal. This marked his second consecutive Paralympic medal, solidifying his place among India's elite Paralympians. Despite achieving a season-best throw, Yogesh felt there was more he could have given and aimed to challenge Brazil's Claudiney Batista for gold.

Gold – Nitesh Kumar (Badminton)
Nitesh Kumar, the top seed, faced a daunting challenge in the men's singles SL3 final against Daniel Bethell, a player he had never defeated in nine previous encounters. However, in an intense 80-minute match, Nitesh triumphed 21-14, 18-21, 23-21, claiming India's second gold in Paris and ensuring the SL3 title stayed with India despite Pramod Bhagat's suspension.

Silver – Thulasimathi Murugesan (Badminton)
In a historic achievement for Indian para badminton, 22-year-old Thulasimathi Murugesan secured a silver in women's singles SU5, marking the first time an Indian female shuttler reached the podium at the Paralympics. Despite a strong effort, she was outplayed by reigning champion Yang Qiu Xia in the final.

Bronze – Manisha Ramadass (Badminton)

Manisha Ramadass, just 19 years old, added to India's success by clinching a bronze medal in women's singles SU5. She defeated her Danish opponent in straight games, making it two Indian shuttlers on the podium in this category.

Silver – Suhas Yathiraj (Badminton)
Suhas Yathiraj, the world number one in men's singles SL4, faced a tough battle against France's Lucas Mazur in the final. Despite the home crowd's support for Mazur, Suhas put up a valiant fight but had to settle for silver, adding another Paralympic medal to his impressive resume.

Bronze – Rakesh Kumar & Sheetal Devi (Archery)
Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi, aged 22 years apart, teamed up in the mixed team compound open archery event. After a narrow semifinal loss to Iran, they bounced back to defeat Italy and secure a bronze, giving India its first archery medal in Paris.

Gold – Sumit Antil (Athletics)
Sumit Antil once again proved his dominance in men's javelin throw F64. Breaking his own Paralympic record with a throw of 70.59 meters, Sumit secured his second consecutive gold medal. His performance left no doubt as he outpaced his competitors by a significant margin.

Bronze – Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (Badminton)
Capping off the day, Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan won a bronze in women's singles SH6, defeating Indonesia's Rina Marlina in straight games. Her victory marked India's fifth para badminton medal in Paris, surpassing the tally from Tokyo.