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Indian Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced cash rewards of INR 75 lakh to the gold medallist, INR 50 lakh and INR 30 lakh to the silver medallists and bronze medallists at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Mandaviya announced the prize money during an event organised to facilitate the medallist. The minister promised full support for the para-athletes to achieve more in the next edition of the quadrennial tournament.
Indian athletes had a lone shining moment at the 2012 edition of the tournament organised in London. In that edition, Girisha Hosanagara Nagarajegowda won a silver medal in the men’s high jump. Since India came home medal-less in the 2008 Beijing edition, Girisha’s silver felt extremely special. However, it also raised questions about India’s capabilities and attitude to para sports and disability in general.
India’s journey from one medal in 2008 to four in 2016 and 20 in 2020
The fact that we, as Indians, couldn’t provide much to para-athletes raised fingers on government’s aid. However, it seems that the Indian government learnt a hard lesson from that and went on to provide basic infrastructure and financial aid to the deserving athletes. It goes without saying that the help proved to be a fuel to those athletes who were waiting for just an opportunity to prove themselves.
And, they went on to prove themselves, and something seems to have clicked since London 2012. India went on to win four medals in Rio in 2016 and 20 at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. In 2024, the Indian contingent came home with 29 medals, and showcased the world and their countrymen that they are no less than their Olympics compatriots.
The achievements are special given the leap of growth Indian para athletes have shown in just over a decade. Though the country has a long way to go to take on giants like China, Great Britain and the US, it feels good to see that the supporters of para sports in the country are turning.
