The Paralympics are certainly turning out to be quite eventful
Wonderful things have happened so far at the Games. Djamila Khemgani created history as her efforts helped to bring about the first women’s wheelchair basketball team participation in the history of the Paralympics. Great Britain’s Sophie Hahn set a world record and ended up equalling it to retain her Gold in the Women’s 100m race.
Cuba’s Omara Durand, widely hailed as the fastest Paralympian in the world, added to her triple Championship title by breaking her own record once again. At this point, it certainly seems that the only person she is competing against is herself.
The World Champion from France, Marie-Amelie le Fur, broke records twice in consecutive Rounds before winning the Gold for long-jump while another Frenchwoman, Maroua Brahmi broke the previously set world record by 3.5mts to win Gold in her Club Throw event.
Home favourite Daniel Martins secured Gold in the T20 400m race and was cheered throughout the race.
At the Aquatics Centre, new records were set in 10 out of the 16 events after Day 2 of the Paralympics. China scooped up 5 medals all by registering record times. China and Great Britain clearly seem to be the standout performers as both of them sit comfortably at the top of the medals tally.
For India, after two heartbreaking 4th place finishes, glory was finally savoured by the country’s Paralympians and viewers alike. Sandeep and Farman Basha narrowly missed a podium finish in Javelin and Powerlifting respectively.
A little over a day after that, Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati did what no other Indian has managed to do before. This is the first time since 1984 that two Indians have won medals in the same sport at the highest stage of competition. Needless to say, this was indeed a celebratory moment for all Indians back home watching and supporting the contingent.
Day 3 was bittersweet as India’s only archer to ever qualify for the Games ended in the 29th position in the ranking round and will now play in the Round of 32. However, veteran shooter Naresh Sharma ended his campaign in the 10m Air Rifle event with disappointment as he failed to qualify for the finals.
Day 5 saw India win their third medal- a silver by Deepa Malik in F53 Shotput after she registered a personal best throw of 4.61 m.
Day 6 saw India’s fourth medal at the Paralympics. The country was set for double joy as Devendra Jhajharia broke his own world record set in 2004, to register a throw of 63.97m- thus setting a new record and winning India’s second Gold of 2016.
A third heartbreak was in store for the country after World No 2 Amit Kumar Saroha finished fourth in his event. So, alongside four medals, India has seen three fourth place finishes which show the immense capability and strength of the tiny squad.
In ten days, days, the Paralympics have already proved themselves as an exciting event.
Below is a list of the top 10 medalists so far, ranked according to the number of gold medals, and India’s current ranking based on this tally.
