India’s Paralympic heroes received a grand welcome and cash awards upon their return from the Paris Paralympics, where they achieved a historic medal haul of 29. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced cash rewards of Rs 75 lakh for gold medallists, Rs 50 lakh for silver winners, and Rs 30 lakh for bronze medallists. Mixed team event participants, such as archer Sheetal Devi, received Rs 22.5 lakh.
Mandaviya pledged full support and facilities for para-athletes to excel in the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. He highlighted India’s remarkable progress in Paralympics, from 4 medals in 2016 to 19 in Tokyo and 29 in Paris, securing an 18th place finish.
India’s Paralympic campaign culminated with a remarkable 29 medals, including 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze, surpassing the country’s previous best performance. This achievement also marked India’s crossing of the 50-medal mark in Paralympic Games history.
Navdeep Singh’s gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 final was India’s 29th and final medal. Despite initial controversy, Navdeep’s silver was upgraded to gold after the Iranian athlete’s disqualification. His coach, Naval Singh, praised Navdeep’s technique, comparing it favorably to Olympic star Neeraj Chopra.
Navdeep acknowledged his coach’s significant role in his success, crediting him for his international-level javelin throwing skills. The coach expressed pride in Navdeep’s achievements and predicted future record-breaking performances.
