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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.

Indian Cyclists Arshad Shaik and Jyoti Gaderiya Finish Respectably at ParalympicsIndian cyclists Arshad Shaik and Jyoti Gaderiya showcased their determination and resilience at the Paralympics in Paris on Wednesday, competing in their respective cycling events.Gaderiya, competing in the women's C1 individual time trial, faced a challenging 5.8km course. Despite finishing in 16th and last position, she displayed unwavering spirit, completing the race in 30 minutes and 0.16 seconds. Germany's Maike Hausberger emerged victorious, securing the gold medal with a time of 21:30.45. Britain's Frances Brown and Sweden's Anna Beck followed closely, claiming silver and bronze with times of 21:46.18 and 21:54.71, respectively.In the men's C2 time trial, Arshad Shaik also faced a demanding 5.8km course. Despite finishing 11th and last, he demonstrated his tenacity, crossing the finish line in 25:20.11. France's Alexandre Leaute dominated the event, winning the gold medal with an impressive time of 19:24.25. Belgium's Ewoud Vromant and Australia's Darren Hicks secured silver and bronze with times of 19:26.45 and 19:26.61, respectively.Athletes in the women's C1 and men's C2 classes typically have limb deficiencies, impaired muscle power or range of motion, or impairments affecting coordination. Jyoti Gaderiya's journey to the Paralympics has been marked by adversity. Following a bike accident in May 2016, she underwent a left leg amputation. Despite this setback, she has persevered, and the Paralympics marks her participation in four events.Arshad Shaik has also faced challenges, having suffered multiple injuries, including a left leg above-knee amputation, in a road accident in 2004 at the age of 11. His determination and resilience have propelled him to the Paralympics, where he continues to inspire others.

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.

Sumit Antil, India's history-making javelin thrower, has overcome adversity to defend his Paralympic title in the F64 category. Carrying a back injury for over a year, Antil's path to glory was paved with sacrifices and sleepless nights.On the advice of his physiotherapist, Antil reluctantly gave up his beloved sweets and shed 12 kilograms in two months. This sacrifice paid off as he clinched gold with a record throw of 70.59m, surpassing his previous Paralympic best of 68.55m.Antil's back injury, sustained in 2023, has been a constant challenge. He has relied on painkillers and precautions to protect his back during training and competitions. After his return to India, his first priority will be to address this injury.Antil's coach, Arun Kumar, has played a pivotal role in his success. Kumar has meticulously planned Antil's schedule and provided unwavering support. Antil also credits CrossFit workouts and sprints for his improved performance.Despite the pressure and expectations, Antil has remained humble and focused. He acknowledges the support of his team and the responsibility that comes with his success.Antil's journey to the Paralympics began in 2015 after a tractor accident led to the amputation of his left leg below the knee. Undeterred, he found his passion in javelin and has since become a champion in the F64 category, designated for athletes with lower limb impairments.

India's Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar have etched their names in Paralympic history by securing a bronze medal in the mixed team compound archery competition at the Tokyo Paralympics. The duo's triumph marks India's second archery medal at the Paralympics, following Harvinder Singh's bronze in Tokyo 2020.The Indian pair faced a heart-wrenching defeat in the semifinals against Iran's Fatemeh Hemmati and Hadi Nori, losing in a dramatic shoot-off. However, they displayed remarkable resilience and determination in the bronze medal match against Italy's Eleonora Sarti and Matteo Bonacina.With just four arrows remaining, India trailed by a single point. Sarti showcased exceptional form, while Bonacina faced some challenges. However, Sheetal's 17-year-old shot was upgraded upon revision, giving India a crucial advantage.The Indian duo held their nerve and emerged victorious with a narrow 156-155 margin. Sheetal's composure and Rakesh's experience proved invaluable in securing the bronze medal.India's success in archery at the Paralympics is a testament to the growing strength and talent of the country's para-athletes. The bronze medal won by Sheetal and Rakesh is a source of pride and inspiration for the entire nation.

Indian shooters Nihal Singh and Amir Ahmad Bhat narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final of the mixed 25m pistol (SH1) competition at the Paralympics in Tokyo on Monday. Singh finished 10th with a score of 569, while Bhat placed 11th with 568, falling short of the top eight who advanced to the medal round.In the precision stage, Singh impressed with a score of 287, placing him fourth. Bhat also performed well, scoring 286 to hold the eighth and final qualifying spot. However, both shooters struggled in the rapid stage, managing only 282 each. This resulted in aggregate scores that were insufficient to secure a place in the final.The SH1 classification in shooting allows athletes to hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position. They can use either a pistol or a rifle.This was the second consecutive day without a medal for the Indian shooting team at the Paralympics. In the first three days of competition, the team had secured four podium finishes, including a gold medal.Despite the disappointment, Singh and Bhat displayed commendable consistency in the qualification round. They will be hoping to improve their performance in future events and contribute to India's medal tally at the Paralympics.

Indian para-rowers Narayana Konganapalle and Anita, who won a silver medal at the Asian Para Games, finished eighth overall in the PR3 mixed double sculls rowing event at the Paris Paralympics on Sunday.Making their Paralympic debut, the duo secured a timing of 8:16.96 seconds to finish second in Final B of their repechage event, which determined their final standings. Saige Happer and Todd Vogt of the USA topped the Final B race with a timing of 7:48.38s, while Mexico's Miguel Angel Nieto Carpio and Angeles Britani Gutierrez Vieyra came behind the Indians (8:28.23s).The Indian pair had to compete in the Final B classification race for 7th to 12th spot after finishing third in their heat on Saturday. They had finished the race with a timing of 7:54.33s, behind Ukraine (7:29.24s) and Great Britain (7:20.53s).Konganapalle, an Army sepoy, lost his left leg below the knee after stepping on a landmine while guarding the Indian borders in Jammu and Kashmir in February 2015. Anita lost her leg in a road accident when she was 18.The PR-3 category is meant for para-rowers with residual leg function that allows them to slide the seat during the rowing motion.Despite their valiant efforts, Konganapalle and Anita were unable to secure a medal at the Paralympics. However, their performance is a testament to their determination and resilience, and they will undoubtedly continue to inspire other para-athletes in India.

India's Ravi Rongali showcased an impressive performance in the men's F40 shot put final at the Paris Paralympics, securing a commendable fifth place. Rongali, who had previously earned a silver medal at the Asian Para Games in China, achieved a personal best of 10.63m. However, this was not sufficient to secure a podium finish in a highly competitive field.Portugal's Miguel Montero, the world record holder, claimed the gold medal with a throw of 11.21m. Mongolia's Battulga Tsegmid (11.09m) and Iraq's Garrah Tnaiash (11.03m) secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Russian Denis Gnezdilov, the reigning world para athletics champion, finished fourth with a throw of 10.80m.In the women's 1500m T11 race, India's Rakshita Raju faced disappointment in the opening round heats. Raju, 23, finished last out of four runners in Heat 3 with a timing of 5:29.92s. Only the top two runners from each heat qualified for the final.The T11 category is designated for athletes with visual impairments, including complete loss of vision or limited ability to perceive light. These athletes often run with guides.On Friday, Preethi Pal had made history by winning India's first athletics medal in a Paralympics track event. Pal secured a bronze medal in the women's T35 100m event with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds. The T35 classification is for athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, and athetosis.