India at Paralympics: Meet the previous medallists

India have received 12 medals, together with 4 gold, and as many silver and bronze medals within the Summer Paralympics since its debut on the 1968 Games.
1972, Heidelberg Paralympics
MURLIKANT PETKAR: GOLD
Petkar received the nation’s first ever medal on the Paralympics when he clinched the gold within the males’s 50m freestyle swimming occasion, clocking a world file time of 37.33 seconds.
Originally a boxer within the Indian Army, Patekar switched to swimming and different sports activities after dropping his arm within the 1965 Indo-Pak warfare.
He was India’s first-ever particular person gold medallist on the Paralympics and Olympics.
1984, New York (US), Stoke Mandeville (UK) Paralympics
JOGINDER SINGH BEDI: 1 SILVER, 2 BRONZE
Bedi received the silver medal within the shot put occasion whereas bagging a bronze every in discus and javelin throw occasions. He holds the file of being the Indian with essentially the most Paralympic medals.
BHIMRAO KESARKAR: SILVER
Kesarkar clinched the silver medal within the males’s javelin throw occasion on the 1984 Paralympics, co-hosted by Stoke Mandeville, UK, and New York, US.
He completed forward of compatriot Joginder Singh Bedi, who claimed the bronze medal in the identical occasion.
2004, Athens Paralympics
DAVENDRA JHAJHARIA: GOLD
Jhajharia ended India’s 20 yr anticipate a Paralympic medal by clinching the gold within the males’s javelin throw on the Athens Games. With his throw of 62.15m in Athens, Jhajharia set a brand new world mark, a file that he would rewrite 12 years later.
Hailing from a small village in Rajasthan’s Churu district, Jhajharia was round eight years outdated when his left hand needed to be amputated instantly after he by accident touched a reside electrical cable entwined in a department of tree he had climbed.
Jhajharia can be in motion in Tokyo as nicely.
RAJINDER SINGH RAHELU: BRONZE
The second Indian medallist on the Athens Games, Rahelu, competed within the 56kg males’s powerlifting occasion. He bagged the bronze with an effort of 157.5kg.
Born in Mehsampur village, Jalandhar district, Punjab, Rahelu is suffers from childish paralysis. He contracted polio when he was eight months outdated.
2012, London Paralympics
GIRISHA NAGARAJEGOWDA: SILVER
The lone Indian medallist within the London version of the Games, Nagarajegowda grabbed the silver within the males’s excessive bounce with a bounce of 1.74 metres.
With the feat, Nagarajegowda, who has an impairment in his left leg, turned the primary Indian to win a medal at that occasion.
2016, Rio Paralympics
DAVENDRA JHAJHARIA: GOLD
Jhajharia etched his title in historical past books when he despatched the spear to a distance of 63.97 metres within the males’s javelin throw occasion in Rio, turning into the primary Indian to clinch two gold medals on the Paralympics.
One of India’s most embellished athletes on the Paralympics, Jhajharia additionally bettered his world file that he had set 12 years earlier on the Athens Games. He can be competing within the Tokyo Games with an goal of clinching his third gold medal.
MARIYAPPAN THANGAVELU: GOLD
Thangavelu bagged the gold within the excessive bounce occasion on the Rio Games by clearing 1.89m. He is one in every of solely three gold medal-winning Paralympians within the nation.
Hailing from Salem district in Tamil Nadu, his good effort noticed him obliterate the earlier Asian file.
Thangavelu, who suffered a everlasting incapacity on the age of 5 when a bus crushed his proper leg beneath the knee, might be defending his gold on the Tokyo Games.
DEEPA MALIK- SILVER
Malik turned the primary lady from India to win a Paralympic medal when she received the silver within the shot put occasion in Rio with a finest throw of 4.61m.
A paraplegic, paralysed from waist down, Malik was consigned to the wheelchair after being operated for a spinal tumour.
She presently serves because the President of the Paralympic Committee of India.
VARUN SINGH BHATI- BRONZE
Bhati clinched the bronze medal in excessive bounce on the Rio Games, accompanying compatriot Mariyappan Thangavelu, who received the gold, on the rostrum.
Afflicted by poliomyelitis at a younger age, Bhati had produced a private finest mark of 1.86 metres, capping off India’s most profitable Paralympics until date.