Para-athletes are ready to prove their strength at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Yes, talks about Tokyo Olympics were fading while the Tokyo Paralympics have been making their way to take the centre stage. On this note, let us take a quick look at the para-athletes who are gearing up to give their champion performances on the world stage. India sent 54 para-athletes and all of them are with high hopes and sheer determination to get home, medals of glory. This article throws light on who those children of the nation are, who are ready to place their country on the shining side.

Archery:

From the 2019 World Archery Para Championships, Indian archers have secured their berths for Tokyo Paralympics. Harvinder Singh and Vivek Chikara become the first male archers from the country to qualify for the games and they secured their seats after finishing in the Top 16 in the World Championship. Both of them would take part in the Recurve Individual Open category. Rakesh Kumar and Shyam Sundar Swami, who also qualified for the World Championship, would participate under the Compound Individual Open Category. Jyoti Baliyan, who got the Bipartite Commission Invitation to participate in the tournament, will represent India in the Compound Individual Open event.

Badminton:

In the debut in Badminton Paralympics, India is sending five male and two female badminton players to the world stage. Pramod Bhagat, Manoj Sarkar will represent India in the Men’s Singles SL3 category while Tarun Dhillon and Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj would play in the Men’s Singles SL4 category. Krishna Nagar would play for India in the Men’s Singles SS6 category. Parul Parmar will play for the nation in the Women’s Singles SL4 category while Palak Kohli will participate in the Women’s Singles SU5 category. The both will in turn take part in the Women’s Doubles in the SL3-SU5 category. In the Mixed Doubles category, Palak Kohli will join Pramod Bhagat in the SL3-SU5 category. Cheers to the players and we wish they outperform their contenders in their maiden Paralympics.

Para Canoeing:

After finishing in 8th place at the ICF Championship 2019, Prachi Yadav secured her berth for the Tokyo Paralympics in Para Canoeing. This India’s first Para Canoe athlete will play under the Women’s VL2 category.

Powerlifting:

Indian athletes Sakina Khatun and Jaideep Deswal have received the bipartite invitation to participate in the Paralympic Games. Sakina Khatun became the first-ever female powerlifter from India to participate in the most coveted world games. She would take part in the Women’s 50kg category. Jaideep, who took part in the 2012 Games and represented India in Athletics, will compete in the Men’s 65kg category.

Swimming:

Niranjan Mukundan, who was crowned as the Junior World Champion in the year 2015, will compete in the 50m Butterfly S7 category at the Tokyo Games. He received the Bipartite invitation. Suyash Jadhav will represent India in two categories viz. 50m Butterfly S7 and 200 Individual Medley SM7.

Table Tennis:

Two women will be representing India in Table Tennis at the Tokyo Paralympics. Sonalben Madhubhai Patel competes in the Individual C3 category while Bhavina Hasmukhbhai Patel who has won gold and silver medals at several national and international championships earlier will compete for the country in the Individual C4 category.

Taekwondo:

India is sending one Taekwondo para-athlete, Aruna Tanwar to Paralympics, who received Bipartite commission invitation. She would compete in the Women’s K44- 49Kg category.

Shooting:

Paralympic Committee of India has announced the 10 members Indian Team for the Tokyo 2021 games on 8th July 2021. After giving their best at the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport Championships, 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup, 2019 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup, Al Ain and 2019 World Para Sports Championships held in Sydney, these para-athletes have booked their seats for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Manish Narwal won gold at the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup and qualified for the Paralympics. Deepender Singh won silver in the same event and joined Manish to represent India in Tokyo. Singhraj Adhana would also represent India along with these two in the Men’s P1 – 10m air pistol SH1 category. Deepak Saini would compete in two categories viz Men’s R1- 10m air rifle standing SH1 and Men’s R7- 50m rifle 3 positions. He secured his berth after winning at the 2021 Para Sport World Cup held in Lima. Rubina Francis also gave her best in the same event and is all set to compete at the Tokyo Paralympics in the Women’s P2- 10m air pistol SH1 category. Avani Lekhera will represent India in two categories viz. Women’s R2 – 10m air rifle SH1 and Women’s R8 – 50m rifle 3 positions SH1. Rahul Jakahar and Akash will make their appearances in the Mixed P3 – 25m pistol SH1 event, Manish Narwal, Singhraj and Akash in the Mixed P4 – 50m pistol Sh1, Deepak Saini, Sidhartha Babu, Avani Lekhera in the Mixed R3 – 10m air rifle prone SH1 and in Mixed R6 – 50m rifle prone SH1 events.

Of course, these amazing athletes certainly deserve much more limelight and encouragement from the people.