Indian Contingent to Shine at Historic Paris Paralympics Opening Ceremony
New Delhi: Over 100 members of the Indian contingent, including 52 athletes, are set to participate in the historic Paris Paralympics opening ceremony on Wednesday. This event marks a significant milestone as it will be the first time the ceremony is held outside a stadium, taking place at the iconic Champs-Elysees and Place de la Concorde in the heart of Paris.
However, not all athletes will be able to join the parade of nations. Those scheduled to compete on Thursday, including the entire 10-member shooting team, will not participate. Devendra Jhajharia, the president of the Paralympics Committee of India, emphasized the importance of preserving the athletes’ energy for their upcoming events. “All athletes competing on August 29 will not take part in the opening ceremony, as it would be difficult for them to compete the following day,” he explained.
The Indian shooting team, led by star shooter Avani Lekhara, who is defending her gold medal from the Tokyo Paralympics, is currently based in Chateauroux, a city over 200 kilometers from Paris, where the shooting range is located. Given the distance and the tight schedule, it was deemed more practical for the shooting team to skip the ceremony.
India’s parade of nations contingent will consist of 106 members, with 52 athletes and 54 officials. Javelin thrower Sumit Antil (F64) and shot putter Bhagyashree Jadhav (F34), both defending their gold medals, will proudly carry the Indian flag as joint flag bearers during the ceremony.
India is fielding a record 84-member team at the Paris Paralympics, with the ambitious goal of securing 25 medals, including a double-digit gold tally. In the previous Tokyo Paralympics, India achieved an impressive haul of 19 medals, including five golds, with a 54-member team. The Indian athletes are eager to surpass this record in Paris, continuing their journey of excellence on the global stage.
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