The story of India’s rise in World para athletics is not just about medals won or rankings improved; it is about a systemic transformation that has redefined the nation’s sporting identity.
Over little more than a decade, India has gone from a country struggling to make a mark at the World Para Athletics Championships to finishing 6th in the world in 2024 with a record 17 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze). This dramatic leap is one of the most compelling sporting narratives in modern Indian history, blending policy reforms, athlete resilience, and changing societal attitudes.
India’s para-athletics journey on the global stage began modestly. At the 2011 World Para Athletics Championships in Christchurch, India managed just a single silver medal, finishing a distant 55th in the medal standings. This performance reflected the fragmented state of para-sport in the country at the time dominated by isolated talent without institutional backing or a long-term development plan. In 2013, however, came a breakthrough. At Lyon, Devendra Jhajharia, India’s pioneering javelin thrower, delivered the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the championships.
Despite this historic achievement, India finished only 36th, underlining the lack of depth beyond individual brilliance. Two years later, in Doha (2015), India secured two silver medals thanks to athletes like Amit Kumar and Jhajharia, but the overall rank slipped further to 50th. While there were encouraging individual performances, the results highlighted a troubling paradox: medal counts were improving slightly, but India was falling behind in relative terms as other nations invested heavily in para-athletics.
These early years were a reminder that talent alone was not enough. Without structured support, India risked remaining on the periphery of world para sport.
Building Momentum (2017–2019)
The tide began to turn at the 2017 Championships in London, where India won five medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze) and climbed to 34th place. The highlight came from Sundar Singh Gurjar, who clinched gold in the men’s javelin F-46 category. This was a significant step forward: for the first time, India was beginning to show consistency across events rather than relying on a single star. Momentum gathered further in Dubai (2019). India claimed nine medals (2 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze), finishing 23rd, its best-ever result up to that point.
This period coincided with the revamp of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) in 2018, which provided structured financial support, stipends, foreign training, and international exposure to para-athletes.
The impact was immediate athletes who previously struggled for equipment and access suddenly had the resources to compete with the best. This was the first real sign that India’s para-athletics ecosystem was beginning to move beyond isolated brilliance and towards a more sustainable model.
Breaking into the Top 20 (2023)
The 2023 World Championships in Paris marked India’s arrival on the big stage. With 10 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze), India broke into the top 20 for the first time, finishing 19th.
By now, the Indian contingent was led by athletes who had become global names. Sumit Antil, a multiple-time world record holder in javelin, defended his status as the world’s best in his category. Mariyappan Thangavelu, already a Paralympic champion and consistent high jumper, continued to deliver. Importantly, new athletes were also stepping forward, ensuring India’s medal hopes were not dependent on a handful of individuals.
The 2023 edition was both a statement of intent and a dress rehearsal for what was to come.
The Breakthrough of 2024: Kobe Glory
The 2024 Championships in Kobe, Japan, transformed India from an emerging nation into a powerhouse. The contingent won 17 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze) and finished 6th overall a staggering leap of 13 places in just one year. This result placed India alongside para-sport giants like the United States, Great Britain, and China. More importantly, it demonstrated depth across multiple disciplines javelin, high jump, and track events all contributed to the tally.
Several factors explain this surge:
- Government backing: TOPS funding ensured athletes had access to modern training facilities, foreign coaches, and year-round exposure.
- NGO support: Organizations like the GoSports Foundation filled gaps in athlete development by providing holistic services, nutrition, mental conditioning, and career planning.
- Athlete-led governance: With Devendra Jhajharia elected President of the Paralympic Committee of India in 2024, athletes’ needs were finally being represented by someone who had lived the journey.
- Inspirational leaders: Icons like Sumit Antil and Mariyappan Thangavelu not only won medals but inspired younger athletes to believe they too could excel.
Sumit Antil: The Juggernaut, Once an aspiring wrestler, Antil’s life changed after a motorbike accident forced an amputation. He redirected his sporting dreams into javelin and became a global star. A six-time world record holder, Antil won back-to-back Paralympic golds (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024) and multiple world titles, symbolizing India’s dominance in throws.
Mariyappan Thangavelu: The Consistent Pioneer, From a small village in Tamil Nadu, Thangavelu defied poverty and disability to become one of India’s greatest para-athletes. He remains the first Indian to medal in three consecutive Paralympics (gold in Rio 2016, silver in Tokyo 2020, bronze in Paris 2024). His consistency has inspired generations.
Devendra Jhajharia: From Trailblazer to Leader, Jhajharia was India’s first world champion in para athletics (2013) and a two-time Paralympic gold medalist. In 2024, he transitioned into governance, becoming PCI President—a crucial step in making the system athlete-centric.
Sundar Singh Gurjar and Others, Athletes like Sundar Singh Gurjar (multiple javelin medals), Deepa Malik (Paralympic silver), and new-generation stars have all played roles in expanding India’s medal base.
The rise of para-athletes has also changed how India perceives disability. Once marginalized, these athletes are now celebrated as national icons. Greater media coverage, corporate sponsorship, and government recognition have helped dismantle stigma and inspire millions. This shift has created a virtuous cycle: sporting success brings visibility, visibility drives support, and support fuels further success. Para-athletics is no longer a niche it is a movement.
Despite progress, hurdles remain:
- Infrastructure gaps: Accessible, world-class facilities are limited and concentrated in a few cities.
- Coaching shortages: There is still a lack of specialized coaches trained to handle diverse para classifications.
- Grassroots development: Unlike China or the U.S., India does not yet have a structured pipeline to identify and train talent from a young age.
Nations like China (with its centralized training centres), the U.S. (with its American Development Model), and Great Britain (with integrated training systems) show how systemic planning sustains dominance. India must learn from these models if it is to remain in the world’s top 10.
The Kobe breakthrough must be seen not as a peak but as a launchpad. The target for India’s para-athletics ecosystem should be clear:
- Build regional training centres with accessible infrastructure.
- Scale up talent identification programs across rural and urban India.
- Secure long-term funding for TOPS and allied schemes.
- Ensure more athlete voices in governance, following the example of Jhajharia.
With four years to go until the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, India has a golden opportunity to consolidate its status as a global para-sports powerhouse.
From 55th in 2011 to 6th in 2024, India’s rise in para athletics is a story of grit, growth, and glory. It is about athletes who refused to bow to circumstance, institutions that finally invested in their dreams, and a society that is learning to celebrate ability rather than disability. The 2024 World Para Athletics Championships proved that India no longer participates to make up the numbers. It competes to win. And if the last decade is any indication, the next could see India not just rising but dominating.
