Indian para athletes created history on Saturday as they ended their Hangzhou Asian Para Games 2023 campaign with an unprecedented 111 medals.
Indian para athletes created history on Saturday as they ended their Hangzhou Asian Para Games campaign with an unprecedented 111 medals, the biggest haul for the country in any major international multi-sport event. With 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze in their kitty, the Indian para athletes won four medals more than the record tally of 107 won by the able-bodied athletes in the Hangzhou Asian Games held from September 23 to October 8. (Medal Tally | Full Coverage | Sports News)
India ended at fifth place in the medals tally, a remarkable achievement in itself, below China (521 medals: 214 gold, 167 silver, 140 bronze), Iran (131: 44, 46, 41), Japan (150: 42, 49, 59) and Korea (103: 30, 33, 40).
Here are five key highlights from India's record-breaking performance at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou.
1. India won 111 medals (29 Gold, 31 Silver & 51 Bronze medals) with its best ever performance till now in all editions of Asian Para Games. This is more than 3 times the 33 medals in Asian Para Games 2014.
2. India is ranked 5th in the overall medal tally (best ever standing), up from its 15th position at the 2014 Asian Para Games.
3. India won 29 Gold Medals, almost 10 times the 3 Golds at Asian Para Games 2014.
4. In Asian Para Games 2022, the Indian para athletes gave multiple podium finishes with clean sweep in Club Throw F51, Javelin Throw F46, Rapid Chess & Discus Throw F54/55/56 event. 2 medals across 19 events (10 in Athletics, 7 in Badminton, 1 each in Powerlifting and Shooting).
5. India won 1st ever medal in Para Rowing while in Para Taekwondo and Para Canoe in their debut events as well.
Apart from the above feats, 37% of the Indian contingent were women, and 40 out of 111 medals at the Asian Para Games were contributed by Indian women. Furthermore, Indian athletes created 6 World Records, 13 Asian Records and 15 Asian Para Games Records.