India Breaks Its All-Time Paralympics Record as Medal Count Reaches 20

India achieved a breakthrough in the 2024 Paralympics, totaling 20 medals (3 gold, 7 silver, 10 bronze), which exceeded the previous record of 19 medals.

India achieved its highest medal count in Paralympics with the race at a new peak pointing back to its past, on Tuesday a great day by the country's track and field athletes. A sudden burst of medals swelled India’s count to 20, and the country had surpassed the previous record of 19 medals set at the Tokyo Paralympic Games three years earlier. On the unforgettable day in the history of Indian para sports, track and field athletes furnished yet another memorable display at the Stade de France, going on to win five more medals, two silver, and three bronze, to bring the country to 17th place overall completing the event. There is nothing like it.

The T63 classification is for high jumpers with moderate movement impairment in one leg or the absence of limbs above the knee. Earlier, world champion sprinter Deepthi Jeevanji added another bronze for India in the women's 400m (T20) event, clocking 55.82 seconds to secure a podium finish in her debut Games. She finished behind Ukraine's Yuliia Shuliar (55.16 seconds) and Turkey's world record holder Aysel Onder (55.23 seconds).

Jeevanji, the daughter of farm laborers from Kalleda Village in Telangana's Warangal district, was diagnosed with intellectual impairment after being discovered by one of her teachers at school-level athletics meet.

Growing up, she and her parents faced taunts from the villagers due to her disability. However, her village has been celebrating her achievements ever since she won a gold medal at last year’s Asian Para Games and later broke the world record at the Para World Championships in May this year, earning another gold.

The young athlete also received support from national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand after beginning her training with her initial coach, Nagpuri Ramesh.

The T20 category is designated for athletes with intellectual impairments.