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India's Kasthuri Rajamani, a 40-year-old powerlifter from Tamil Nadu, participated in the women's 67kg event at the Paralympic Games in Paris on Friday. Despite equaling her personal best lift of 106kg in her second attempt, Rajamani finished eighth among nine competitors.Rajamani's journey to powerlifting began when a para shooter friend encouraged her to take up the sport. She subsequently won gold in the 67kg category at the Khelo India Para Games last year. However, at the Hangzhou Para Games in 2023, she placed fifth.In the Paris Paralympics, China's Yujiao Tan, a two-time Paralympic champion and four-time world championship gold medalist, dominated the event. Tan set a new world and Paralympic record with a lift of 142kg, securing her third consecutive title at the global showpiece.Egypt's Fatma Elyan claimed the silver medal with a best lift of 139kg, while Brazil's Fatima de Maria earned the bronze with a lift of 133kg.Rajamani's performance, while not resulting in a medal, showcased her determination and resilience. She has demonstrated the potential for Indian athletes to excel in powerlifting at the international level.

India's Paralympic contingent is poised to make a strong push towards its target of 30 medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Friday's schedule promises a flurry of medal opportunities, particularly in athletics.In the Men's Javelin Throw F54 Final, Dipesh Kumar will be a strong contender for a podium finish. Praveen Kumar will aim for glory in the Men's High Jump T64 Final, while Bhavanaben Ajabaji Chaudhary will seek a medal in the Women's Javelin Throw F46 Final. Soman Rana and Hokato Hotozhe Sema will represent India in the Men's Shot Put F57 Final.Para-powerlifting will also feature prominently on Friday, with Kasthuri Rajamani competing in the Women's 67kg Final. India has a realistic chance of finishing among the top 12 teams in the Paris Paralympics 2024 medals tally. To achieve this, the contingent needs to maintain its momentum and secure a significant number of medals in the remaining days of competition.

India's Nihal Singh and Rudransh Khandelwal narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 final at the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Singh finished 19th with a score of 522, while Khandelwal placed 22nd with 517 points in the 60-shot qualification round.This setback comes after Singh's failure to reach the Mixed 25m Pistol (SH1) final, where he finished 10th in the qualification. Both Singh and Khandelwal had previously secured silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the Mixed 50m Pistol (SH1) at the Para-Shooting World Cup in March 2023.Despite their individual disappointments, the duo, along with Tokyo Paralympics medalist Singhraj Adhana, contributed to India's silver medal in the Mixed 50m Pistol team event.Khandelwal's journey to the Paralympics has been marked by resilience. After losing his left leg in a fireworks blast in 2015, he spent months recuperating at home. His parents encouraged him to try shooting, and he began training at a local range in Bharatpur, Rajasthan.India's Paralympic contingent has so far amassed 21 medals in Paris, surpassing its tally of 19 at the Tokyo Games in 2021. The current medal count stands at three gold, eight silver, and ten bronze.

Indian para-athlete Amisha narrowly missed out on a medal in the F46 Shot Put final at the ongoing Paris Paralympics, finishing 14th with a personal best of 9.25 m. The podium was dominated by Noelle Malkamaki of the USA, who set a new world record with a throw of 14.06 m, Mariia Shpatkivska of Ukraine with an area record of 12.35 m, and Holly Robinson of New Zealand with a throw of 11.88 m.In the men's up to 49 kg para-lifting category, India's Parmjeet Kumar also failed to secure a medal, finishing eighth with a best lift of 150 kg. The gold medal went to Jordan's Qarada Omar Sami Hamadeh (181 kg), followed by Turkey's Abdullah Kayapinar (180 kg) and Vietnam's Le Van Cong (171 kg).Despite these setbacks, the Indian contingent has already amassed 21 medals (three gold, eight silver, and ten bronze) and is poised to extend its record medal haul in a single edition of the Paralympics. In the Tokyo edition, India recorded its best-ever medal tally of 19 (five gold, eight silver, and six bronze).On Wednesday, para-athlete Sachin Khilari clinched the silver medal in the men's shot put F46 final with a throw of 16.32 m, setting an area record. However, he narrowly missed the gold by 0.6 m.Over the past few days, the Indian contingent has won 13 medals, including golds for Avani Lekhara in the women's 10m air rifle and Sumit Antil in the men's javelin throw F64, silver medals for Manish Narwal in the men's 10m air pistol SH1 and Nishad Kumar in the men's high jump T47, and bronze medals for Mona Agarwal in the women's 10m air rifle, Rubina Francis in the women's 10m air pistol SH-1, Preeti Pal in the women's 100m T35, Yogesh Kathuniya in the men's discus throw F56, Rakesh Kumar and Sheetal Devi in the mixed team compound archery, Nithya Sre Sivan in the women's SH6 para-badminton, Nitesh in the men's singles SL3 para-badminton, Thulasimathi Murugesan in the women's singles SU5 para-badminton, and Manisha in the women's singles SU5 para-badminton.

India's Sachin Sarjerao Khilari has etched his name in Paralympic history by securing a silver medal in the men's shot put F46 event at the ongoing Games in Paris. With an Asian record distance of 16.32m, Khilari showcased his exceptional athleticism and determination.Khilari's triumph marks the 11th medal for India in para-athletics at these Games. The 34-year-old athlete had previously won a gold medal at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Japan in May, setting an Asian record of 16.30m.In Paris, Khilari's best throw came in his second attempt, surpassing his own previous record. Canada's Greg Stewart, the defending Paralympic champion, retained his gold with a throw of 16.38m. Luka Bakovic of Croatia claimed the bronze with a distance of 16.27m.Khilari's success is a testament to his unwavering spirit and the support he has received. The F46 classification is designed for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power, or impaired passive range of movement in arms. Khilari competes in a standing position despite having an impaired left hand.His journey to the Paralympic podium has been marked by hard work, dedication, and a belief in his abilities. Khilari's silver medal is a source of pride for India and an inspiration to athletes around the world.

Sangram Singh, India's pioneering male wrestler and former ambassador of the Wrestling Federation of India, is embarking on a new chapter in his illustrious career. On September 21, he will step into the octagon at the Gama International Fighting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, to face Ali Raza Nasir of Pakistan.This momentous occasion marks Singh's transition from wrestling to mixed martial arts (MMA), a testament to his unwavering dedication to the sport. Singh envisions a future where Indian athletes excel on the global MMA stage and have ample opportunities to develop their careers."My journey from wrestling to MMA isn't just for me," Singh said. "I hope to build the sport in India and pave the way for our young fighters to compete internationally. I want to inspire them to believe that with hard work and determination, they too can achieve greatness."Singh's foray into MMA is not merely a personal pursuit but also a strategic move to elevate the sport in India. He believes that MMA has the potential to revolutionize combat sports, including boxing and wrestling."As a sportsman, it's essential to stay abreast of the latest trends in the sport," Singh explained. "MMA is gaining immense popularity worldwide, and I see it having a significant impact on the entire combat sports landscape."Singh's impressive wrestling credentials have earned him accolades both nationally and internationally. His transition to MMA is expected to further enhance the stature of Indian athletes in the global combat sports community.Growing up, Singh was inspired by his brother's wrestling prowess. Despite being diagnosed with arthritis, he overcame adversity to become a world-renowned wrestler. In 2012, he was crowned the World's Best Professional Wrestler, and he also triumphed in the 2015 and 2016 Commonwealth Heavyweight Championships.Throughout his career, Singh has been a role model and motivator for countless young people. His success in wrestling and his subsequent transition to MMA demonstrate his unwavering determination and his commitment to promoting combat sports in India.

India's Paralympic contingent is poised to make history at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, with a packed schedule of events on September 4th. The day promises to be filled with thrilling competitions and medal-winning opportunities for the Indian athletes.In table tennis, Tokyo Paralympics silver medalist Bhavina Patel will take center stage in the women's singles class 4 quarter-finals. She will face a formidable opponent in Zhou Ying of China, but Patel's determination and skill make her a strong contender for a podium finish.The men's shot put F46 event will witness a trio of Indian athletes vying for glory. Mohd Yasser, Rohit Kumar, and Sachin Sarjerao Khilari will all be in action, aiming to secure a place on the medal stand. In the women's shot put F46, Amisha Rawat will represent India and strive to add to the country's medal tally.Powerlifting will also be a key focus for India, with Parmjeet Kumar competing in the men's 49kg category and Sakina Khatun in the women's 45kg category. Both athletes have proven their mettle in previous competitions and will be looking to make their mark in Paris.Archery will see Harvinder Singh take on Tseng Lung-hui of Taiwan in the men's recurve pre-quarterfinal. Singh's precision and focus will be crucial as he aims to advance to the next round.Cycling will also feature Indian representation, with Arshad Shaik competing in the men's C2 Individual Road Time Trial and Jyoti Gaderiya in the women's C1-3 Individual Road Time Trial. Both athletes will be determined to showcase their endurance and speed on the cycling track.In shooting, Nihal Singh and Rudransh Khandelwal will participate in the mixed 50m pistol SH1 qualification and final, aiming to secure a spot on the podium.The day's schedule also includes the men's club throw F51, where Dharambir, Pranav Soorma, and Amit Kumar Saroha will represent India. In the women's 100m T12 heat, Simran will be looking to qualify for the next round.With such a diverse and talented contingent, India has a strong chance of achieving its best-ever medal tally at the Paralympics. The athletes' dedication, determination, and unwavering spirit will undoubtedly inspire the nation and bring glory to the country.

Pooja Jatyan, India's World Para Championship silver medalist, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the recurve women's open archery competition at the Paris Paralympics. The 27-year-old defeated Yagmur Sengul of Turkey in straight sets on Tuesday.Jatyan, who received a bye into the pre-quarters after finishing in the top nine in the ranking round, won 6-0. She will face Tokyo Paralympics bronze medalist Wu Chunyan of China in the quarterfinals later in the day. Chunyan, the second seed, defeated Oyun-Erdene Buyanjargal of Mongolia in her pre-quarterfinal match.Jatyan dominated the first set, hitting three 9s in a row. She continued her strong performance in the second set, scoring 26 points to her opponent's 22. Sengul put up some resistance in the third set, hitting two 9s and an 8, but Jatyan remained calm and edged out the Turkish archer by one point to seal the win.Jatyan's journey to the Paralympics has been marked by resilience and determination. In 1997, when she was just two months old, a high fever and a wrong injection due to medical negligence resulted in polio in her left leg. Despite this setback, Jatyan embraced archery in her childhood and has gone on to achieve great success.In 2023, Jatyan won a silver medal in the Women's Team event at the Asian Para Championship. She continued her success in 2024, securing a silver medal at the 8th Fazza Para Archery World Ranking Tournament and claiming gold medals in both the Women's Team and Mixed Team events at the Para Archery European Cup 2nd Leg.In the recurve open category, archers shoot from a standing position at a distance of 70m at a 122cm target made up of 10 concentric circles scoring from 10 points down to 1 point from the center outwards.

India's ace shooter Avani Lekhara, who made history by winning a gold medal in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 event at the Tokyo Paralympics, has once again entered the final of a shooting event at the ongoing Games. On Tuesday, Lekhara finished seventh in the qualification round of the women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 competition, securing a spot in the final.Lekhara shot a total of 1159 across the three stages of kneeling, prone, and standing. She started strongly in the kneeling stage, scoring 392, but faced some challenges in the prone stage, scoring 382. However, she recovered in the standing stage, shooting 385, including a series of 96 and 97, to move up to seventh place.Mona Agarwal, the other Indian shooter in the field, finished 13th in the qualification round with a total score of 1147. She shot 386 in the kneeling stage, 380 in the prone stage, and 381 in the standing stage.The top eight shooters from the qualification round advanced to the final, which will be held on Wednesday. Lekhara will be aiming to add another medal to her tally after her historic gold medal in the 10m air rifle SH1 event.Lekhara's success in shooting is a testament to her determination and resilience. She was paralyzed waist-down in a car accident at the age of 11, but she did not let that setback define her. She took up shooting as a hobby and quickly discovered her talent for the sport.Lekhara's achievements have inspired countless people around the world. She is a role model for athletes with disabilities and a symbol of hope and possibility.