PM Modi all set to host India's Paralympians today; a successful Paralympics season

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to meet the Indian contingent of the 2020 Summer Paralympics today.

Union minister for youth affairs and sports Anurag Thakur on Sunday announced that the Prime Minister will be hosting the Paralympians this week.

Minister Thakur said that PM Modi has always had a “vision” for inclusive participation in sports, so creating more opportunities for specially-abled athletes was a part of that idea.

He further said, “The Prime Minister had hosted the Olympians when they arrived in India, and now he is going to host the Paralympians as well”.

The sports minister further pointed out that in 2016, the contingent for the Paralympics was 19 and now in 2021, the country's para-athletes managed to win 19 medals.

It needs to be mentioned that the year 2021 proved to be the most successful Paralympic season for the country with the athletes securing a total of 19 medals - five gold, eight silver, and six bronze. Before this recension, India had won 12 medals in all previous Paralympics appearances combined.

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Meanwhile, the 2020 Summer Paralympics achieved gems in the history of Paralympics.

Harvinder Singh became the first Indian to win a medal in Archery, Avani Lekhara became the first Indian to win a medal in Shooting.

Besides, she also became the first woman from the country to win a gold medal along with a multiple medalists at the Paralympics. Para-athlete Sumit Antil won a gold medal with a 68.55-meter Javelin throw.

Minister Anurag Thakur said, “It clearly shows that India has done well.”

“Our medal tally has increased by about five times. It is a big achievement,” he added.

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