India’s Paralympic hopes will be riding high on the third day of the Paris Paralympics 2024, with athletes competing in para-athletics, para-archery and shooting, promising to bring home medals. India has already bagged four medals at the games, including a gold, a silver and two bronze.

Day 3 at the Paris Paralympics: India’s Medal Hopes

August 31st promises to be an exciting day for Indian athletes at the Paralympics. The day will see Indian para athletes competing across several disciplines, with the potential for adding to India’s medal tally.

Para Badminton: A Crucial Day for Indian Athletes

Day 3 will be critical for Indian para badminton players, as they will face off against tough competition in their respective group stage matches. Several athletes will be fighting for a chance to move into the knockout rounds and have a chance at a medal.

• Mandeep Kaur will take on Celine Aurelien Vinoit of Australia in the Women’s Singles SL3 Group B.
• Nitesh Kumar will play Mongkhon Banson of Thailand in the Men’s Singles SL3 Group A.
• Manoj Sarkar will face Yanag Jiayuan of China in the Men’s Singles SL3 Group A.
• Sukant Kadam will be up against Siriphong Tiemarom of Thailand in the Men’s Singles SL4 Group B.
• Tarun Dhillon will play Lucas Mazur of France in the Men’s Singles SL4 Group D.
• Manisha Ramdas will be up against Yang Qiu Jia of China in the Women’s Singles SU5 Group C.

Para Shooting: Podium Hopefuls

The para shooting event will see two of India’s best shooters, Swaroop Mahavir Unhalekar and Rubina Francis, aiming to reach the final stage and bring home medals.

• Swaroop Mahavir Unhalekar will compete in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle SH1 Standing qualification round. If he qualifies, he will be eligible to participate in the final round later in the day.
• Rubina Francis will compete in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 qualification round. If she qualifies, she will participate in the final round in the evening.

Para Cycling: Medal Contenders on the Track

Indian para cyclists Jyoti Gaderia and Arshad Sheikh will be looking to achieve personal bests and potentially secure a medal in their respective events.

• Jyoti Gaderia will be participating in the Women’s 500m Time Trial C1-C3 qualification round. A strong performance could see her in the final.
• Arshad Sheikh will compete in the Men’s 1000m Time Trial C1-C3 qualification round. Success here will lead to the final.

Para Sailing: A Race for Qualification

The Indian sailing duo of Anita and Narayan Konganapalle will be looking to qualify for the main event by competing in the PR 3 Mixed Double Skulls repêchage. A strong performance will see them advance to the main competition.

Para Archery: Arrows Aimed at the Medal Stand

India’s para archers Sarita Devi and Sheetal Devi will compete in the Women’s Individual Compound Open, with a chance to bring home a medal.

• Sarita Devi will take on Elenaara Sarti of Italy in the Round of 16.
• Sheetal Devi will face Mariana Juniga of Chile in the Round of 16.

The day will culminate with a shot at a medal for Indian para athletes in the following events:

• Women’s Individual Compound Open Quarterfinals
• Women’s Individual Compound Open Semifinals
• Women’s Individual Compound Open Bronze Medal Match
• Women’s Individual Compound Open Final
• Men’s Javelin F57 Final with Praveen Kumar representing India.

India’s Medal Heroes at the Paris Paralympics

India’s medal tally at the Paris Paralympics 2024 stands at four, a testament to the determination and hard work of Indian athletes.

• Avani Lekhara (Shooting): Gold medal, Women’s 10m Air Rifle (SH1)
• Mona Aggarwal (Shooting): Bronze medal, Women’s 10m Air Rifle (SH1)
• Preeti Pal (Athletics): Bronze medal, Women’s 100m Race (T35)
• Manish Narwal (Shooting): Silver medal, Men’s 10m Air Pistol (SH1)

Takeaways

• India has had a strong start at the Paris Paralympics, demonstrating its medal-winning potential.
• The third day of the Paralympics will see crucial performances from Indian athletes in various disciplines, offering a chance to add to India’s medal haul.
• Athletes like Swaroop Mahavir Unhalekar, Rubina Francis, Jyoti Gaderia, Arshad Sheikh, Sarita Devi, Sheetal Devi, and Praveen Kumar are strong contenders for a medal on day 3.
• The Games are not just about medals; it’s about celebrating the spirit of sportsmanship, determination, and perseverance.
• With strong performances across various events, India can look forward to a promising future in the Paralympics.