Paris, August 29 — The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games kicked off with a grand four-hour spectacle that began on the Champs-Élysées and concluded at Place de la Concorde. Javelin throw star Sumit Antil and shot-putter Bhagyashri Jadhav proudly led the Indian contingent during the athletes’ parade.
French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open. This year, India is represented by its largest-ever contingent at the Paralympics, with 179 athletes competing in 12 different sports.
Antil, who clinched a gold medal in javelin at the Tokyo Paralympics, and Jadhav, a silver medallist in shot-put at the Asian Para Games in China, were honored as flag-bearers for the Indian team.
The opening ceremony celebrated diversity, resilience, and the spirit of competition, featuring performances that showcased French culture and the core Paralympic values of determination and equality.
India, which won 19 medals—including five golds—at the previous Paralympics, is aiming to increase its tally to at least 25 medals this year, with hopes for a double-digit count in golds.
Among the notable Indian athletes are rifle shooter Avani Lekhara, who became the first woman to win a Paralympic gold in Tokyo, and para-archer Sheetal Devi, who shoots with her legs due to being born without arms. Other key contenders include landmine blast survivors Hokato Sema (shot putter) and Narayana Konganapalle (rower).
India’s strong performance at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year, where the country won a record 111 medals including 29 golds, has fueled its Paralympic ambitions.
Over 4,000 athletes with various physical and intellectual disabilities will compete in the Games, which will run until September 8.
International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons highlighted the significance of the Games, stating, “The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will demonstrate what persons with disabilities can achieve at the highest level when barriers to success are removed.”
