PM Modi Honours Paralympic Medallists for India's Record Medal Haul

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed India's Paralympians at his residence on Thursday to celebrate their record-breaking achievement of 29 medals at the Paris Games.

A 43-second video shared by the sports ministry shows the PM congratulating the medal winners before engaging in a conversation with them. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) head Devendra Jhajharia were also present during this interaction.

India's Paralympians achieved their best-ever performance at the Paralympic Games, securing 29 medals, including seven golds, nine silvers, and 13 bronzes. The 84-member team surpassed their previous record of 19 medals from the Tokyo Games three years ago. This remarkable feat included several firsts, such as medals in track events and a gold in archery by Harvinder Singh.

Personal Interactions with Athletes

Among those present was wheelchair-bound shooter Avani Lekhara, who won her second consecutive Paralympic gold in women's 10m air rifle SH1. Visually-impaired judoka Kapil Parmar, India's first Paralympic medal-winner in judo, was also seen posing with the PM. Parmar even had his medal signed by Modi.

In a touching moment, PM Modi sat on the floor to accept a cap from javelin thrower Navdeep Singh. The 23-year-old athlete, who competes in the F41 classification due to dwarfism, also had his throwing arm signed by the PM. Modi engaged in light-hearted banter with Navdeep about a viral video where the javelin thrower was heard swearing after his throw during the Games.

Recognition and Rewards

Since their return to India, the Paralympians have been honoured by the government. Sports minister Mandaviya awarded Rs 75 lakh to gold medallists, Rs 50 lakh to silver winners, and Rs 30 lakh to bronze medallists. Athletes excelling in mixed team events, like armless archer Sheetal Devi who won bronze with Rakesh Kumar, received Rs 22.5 lakh each.

Sheetal Devi presented Modi with an autographed jersey signed with her feet. She secured a bronze medal with Rakesh Kumar in the mixed-team compound event in Paris. The athletes expressed their gratitude towards the prime minister. Yogesh Kathuniya, silver medallist in the discus throw F56 class, said, "For everyone, PM means Prime Minister, but for all of us, PM means param mitra (close friend)."

India's outstanding performance at the Paris Games included many firsts and set new benchmarks for future competitions. The athletes' achievements have not only brought pride to the nation but have also inspired many others to pursue sports despite challenges.

The meeting between PM Modi and the Paralympians highlighted India's commitment to supporting and recognising its athletes' efforts and successes on international platforms.