Others

The Indian Paralympic contingent, despite the absence of star shuttler Pramod Bhagat, remains optimistic about achieving a medal haul of at least 25 at the upcoming Paralympics in Paris. With an 84-member contingent competing across 12 disciplines, the Indian team is aiming to surpass its performance at the Tokyo Paralympics, where it won 19 medals, including five gold.Paralympic Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympics gold medalist in javelin throw, expressed confidence in the team's abilities. "The target of 25 medals is based on our current contingent of 84 players. Pramod Bhagat is not included in this," Jhajharia said.While Bhagat's suspension for breaching the BWF's anti-doping whereabouts clause is a setback, Jhajharia believes the team has the potential to overcome this challenge. "Pramod being a gold medal winner of the last Games not being in the Indian team is extremely sad and unfortunate, but we cannot do anything," he said.Jhajharia's confidence stems from the team's rigorous training and preparation. "I have kept this target after closely monitoring our players," he said. "We have worked hard on their physical fitness and mental strength."The Indian contingent includes 47 new players, who are eager to make their mark on the Paralympic stage. Jhajharia expects the highest medal haul from the athletics team, which comprises 38 track and field athletes."Each and every player of our contingent is a medal prospect," Jhajharia said. "We have 38 track and field athletes and I am expecting the most medals from them."The Indian team will also compete in Blind Judo, Para Sailing, and Para Cycling for the first time, expanding its presence in various sports. Jhajharia believes this increased participation will contribute to the team's overall medal tally."I have set a target of 25 medals and to be in the top 20 in the medal table, but we will win more medals than this," Jhajharia said. "We had 56 players in the Tokyo Paralympics, this time 84 players will compete."With a strong contingent and a determined spirit, the Indian Paralympic team is poised to make a significant impact in Paris and bring glory to the nation.

Indian para-athletes are setting their sights high for the upcoming Paris Paralympics, aiming to surpass their historic performance at the Tokyo Games and secure more than 25 medals. This ambitious goal was announced by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Devendra Jhajharia, who expressed confidence in the team's abilities.At the Tokyo Paralympics, India achieved its best-ever performance, winning 19 medals, including five golds. This remarkable achievement has fueled the team's determination to continue their success in Paris. Jhajharia, a three-time Paralympic medalist, emphasized the team's physical and mental readiness for the Games."Our slogan this time is 'Abki Baar 25 Paar'," said Jhajharia. "We have a target of winning more than 25 medals this time. The preparation is going well. I am in touch with the athletes."Jhajharia highlighted the support provided to the para-athletes through the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), which ensures they have access to world-class facilities and training. He also praised the team's performance in recent events, including the Para Asian Games and the World Championships, where India ranked fifth."The players are not only physically but also mentally fit," said Jhajharia. "They are getting all the facilities under the TOPS scheme. In the past 4 years, India has performed well in every event. In the world championships, we were at number 5. To be 5 in the world is a huge thing."The Paris Paralympics are scheduled to begin on August 28, and the Indian para-athletes are eager to showcase their skills and determination on the world stage. With their unwavering spirit and the support of the nation, they aim to create history once again and bring glory to India.

Indian Paralympic legend Devendra Jhajharia has been elected as the new president of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). The 42-year-old javelin thrower, who has won three Paralympic medals, including two golds and a silver, takes over from Deepa Malik, a Paralympics silver medalist athlete.Jhajharia's election comes after a period of turmoil for the PCI. In February, the Sports Ministry suspended the government recognition of the PCI due to delays in holding elections and non-compliance with guidelines. The Sports Ministry had also criticized the PCI's decision to hold the election on March 28 as "willful, intentional, and without any valid reason."Following the suspension, the PCI announced that the elections would be held on March 9 in New Delhi. The Sports Ministry subsequently revoked the suspension of the PCI with immediate effect, citing the PCI's commitment to hosting the 2024 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup later this month.Jhajharia's election is a significant step for the PCI. The three-time Paralympic medalist is a respected figure in the Paralympic movement and is expected to bring stability and leadership to the organization. He has pledged to work towards the development of para-sports in India and to ensure that Indian athletes have the best possible support and opportunities to succeed at the highest level.

The Ministry of Sports has lifted the suspension imposed on the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) after the body initiated the process for its long-pending elections. The elections, which were initially scheduled for January 31, 2024, were postponed to March 28 due to the impending Para Shooting World Cup.The PCI has now proposed March 9 as the new date for the elections and has begun the process of nominations. Most of the top posts are set to be filled without any contest, including the position of President, which will be held by multiple-time Paralympic medallist Devendra Jhajharia.The Ministry of Sports stated that the "main ground for suspension of government recognition" has been addressed. The ministry also noted that the PCI is hosting the 2024 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup from March 6-15 in New Delhi, which was a factor in the decision to revoke the suspension.The Para Shooting World Cup offers 24 Paris Paralympic quota places, and over 500 shooters from 52 countries are expected to participate in the event. Jhajharia, who has won gold medals in the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Paralympics, is the only candidate who filed nomination papers for the PCI chief's post.Other key positions that will be filled unopposed include Secretary General (Jayawant Hammanawar), Vice-Presidents (R Chandrashekhar and Satya Prakash Sangwan), Treasurer (Sunil Pradhan), and Joint Secretaries (Lalit Thakur and T Diwakara).The PCI had received support from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) after the suspension. The IPC had stated that it would continue to recognize the PCI as the only body for para sports in India.