WATCH: Sumit Antil and Bhagyashree Jadhav lead Indian contingent at Paris Paralympics 2024 opening ceremony

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The Indian contingent led by Sumit Antil, the world-record holder in javelin F64 and Bhagyashree Jadhav dazzled at the Paris Paralympics 2024 opening ceremony on Wednesday, August 28. French President Emmanuel Macron officially declared the Games open in a ceremony held outside the confines of a stadium, just like when the Olympics opened in the city on July 26.

Against the backdrop of a setting sun, thousands of athletes paraded down the famed Champs-Elysées avenue to Place de la Concorde in central Paris.

India have sent their largest-ever Paralympic contingent of 84 para-athletes in hope of a record medal tally. Sumit and the male athletes of the Indian contingent were seen wearing white pajamas and kurtas with tri-colour blazers. The female athletes donned the traditional saree.

More than Indian 50 athletes from various sports, took part in the Paris Paralympics opening ceremony, which was held outside a stadium for the first time in the Games' history.

"All the athletes who have competitions on August 29 will not take part in the opening ceremony as it will be difficult for them to compete the next day. The shooting team will not be in the parade of nations," Paralympics Committee of India president Devendra Jhajharia told PTI ahead of the opening ceremony.

The entire 10-member Indian shooting team did not take part in the Parade of Nations as they are based at Chateauroux, more than 200 km from Paris. The shooting range is located at Chateauroux.

About 50,000 people watched the ceremony in stands built around the iconic square, which is the biggest in Paris and is visible from afar because of its ancient Egyptian Obelisk. Accessibility for athletes in wheelchairs was facilitated with strips of asphalt laid along the avenue and placed over the square.

More than 4,000 athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments will compete in 22 sports from Thursday until Sept 8. Under the gaze of Macron, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons, fighter planes flew overhead, leaving red-white-and blue vapours in the colours of the French national flag, before the delegations entered the square in alphabetical order.

(With Input From PTI)