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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.

The modern Olympic Games, a revival of the ancient Greek tradition, were born on April 6, 1896, in Athens. Baron Pierre de Coubertin's vision of international sporting competition came to fruition with the first Games in 1896, featuring 13 participating countries.The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, scheduled for July 26 to August 11, and the Paralympic Games, from August 28 to September 8, promise an unforgettable experience.Venues:Paris will host the majority of events, including fencing and taekwondo at the Grand Palais, beach volleyball and blind football at the Stade Eiffel, and swimming, triathlon, and cycling at the Pont Alexandre III. Historic stadiums like Parc des Princes, Stade de France, and Stade Roland Garros will also host events.Outside Paris, football matches will be played in Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Nice, and Marseille. Handball matches will take place at the Pierre de Mauroy stadium in Lille, while sailing events will be held at the Marina of Marseille. The exceptional Teahupo'o wave in Tahiti will host the surfing competition.Tickets:Tickets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games are available for purchase at paris24tickets.com and through the 'Paris 2024 Tickets' app. Resale of tickets is only permitted through the official Paris 2024 resale platform.Transportation:During the Games, several metro stations and roads will be closed. The blue and red perimeters will be accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, and skateboard and scooter users. Vélib' self-service bicycles will remain available, and cargo bikes may access the red perimeter after inspection.Accommodation:Book your accommodation early to secure a place near the Games. Airbnb, the worldwide partner of Paris 2024, offers options in the heart of the action. ALL, the Premium Partner, provides access to world-renowned hotel brands at guaranteed best prices.Free Events:Experience the excitement of the triathlon, marathon, and road cycling events for free. The triathlon events will take place in central Paris, while the marathon and marathon swimming events will cover routes between Paris and Versailles.Fan Zones:Paris City Hall will set up 25 fan zones where Olympic events will be broadcast on giant screens. These zones will also feature activities, refreshments, and awareness-raising spaces. Champions Park at Trocadéro will be open daily for fans to celebrate medal winners.Opening and Closing Ceremonies:The opening ceremony will take place on July 26, with the national delegations traveling along the Seine River in small boats. The closing ceremony will be held on August 11.New Disciplines:Paris 2024 will introduce four new sports: breaking (breakdancing), sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing. Breaking will feature one-on-one battles between 16 participants, with judges awarding artistic scores.

The Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has extended its support to several Indian athletes preparing for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The MOC has approved proposals from renowned sportspersons, including wrestler Vinesh Phogat, pistol shooter Arjun Cheema, paddler Manika Batra, and boxer Lovlina Borgohain.Vinesh Phogat, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist, has received financial assistance for a competition and training camp in Madrid, Spain, followed by a training camp in Boulogne sur-Mer, France. She will compete in the Grand Prix in Spain in July before spending a week in training there. She will then head to Boulogne sur-Mer, France, for a 20-day training camp ahead of the Olympic Games.Pistol shooter Arjun Cheema has also secured approval for an 11-day training camp in Austria. The MOC has also approved overseas training camps for Indian javelin throwers Ajeet Singh and Sandeep Choudhary, who will train in Germany for 45 and 41 days, respectively.Para-Club and Discus Thrower Pranav Soorma's request for assistance under the Target Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) to compete in the Para Athletics Championship in Krusevac, Serbia, and train for 10 days at the same location has also been approved.Triple jumper Eldhose Paul, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, and table tennis players Sreeja Akula and Manika Batra have also received assistance to compete in various international tournaments. Manika Batra's proposal for assistance towards the purchase of a DHS Table to train in India and Para-Athlete Bhagyashree Jadhav's proposal for assistance towards procurement of wheelchair and shot-put equipment were also sanctioned.Wrestler Antim Panghal's request for assistance towards the boarding and lodging of her coach during the UWW 2nd Ranking Series and the training camp at Olympic Training Centre, Tata, Hungary, and badminton players Rakshitha Sree and Anmol Kharab's request for assistance to compete in the Kaohsiung Masters (BWF super 100) event were also approved.In addition, the MOC has promoted five TOPS Athletes to the Core Group from the Development Group. These are boxers Nishant Dev, Jaismine Lamboria, and Preeti Pawar as well as table Tennis players Manav Thakkar and Archana Kamath.

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.