Para sports has undergone a sea change in terms of perception and support in the last two decades, and these changes together with continuous backing to athletes can power India to 50 medals in the 2036 edition, reckons the legendary Devendra Jhajharia. (More Sports News)
From winning just one Paralympics gold 20 years ago to clinching five yellow metalsꦜ in 2021, para sports in India has come a long way.
India are bidding for the 2036 Olympics and Paralympic Games, and Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) President Jhajharia is upbeat that by then India wilꦜl have the potential to break into꧒ top-10 in the medal tally.
Jhajharia, the most decorated Paralympian of the country, won his first Paralympics gold in the 2004 Athens edition in F46 javelin throw event. He added another gold in🍸 Rio 2016 and a silver in Tokyo in 2021.
The F46 classification is for athletes wi🌳th arm deficiency, impaired muscle💛 power or impaired passive range of movement in arms.
"We won 19 medals in Tokyo, now we have 🤡a target of 25 in Paris. In 2028 Los Angeles, we can aim for more than 30 medals and 40 plus in 2032. And by 2036, when hopefully India hosts Paralympics, we can win 50 medals and be in top-10," the 43-year-old Jhajharia told PTI in an interview.
"We have the visio⭕n, we will progress steadily. We have started identifying talented junior players so that they can be trained for 2028 and 2032 Paralympics through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)," he added.
India have sent a 84-memb🌼er team -- the largest ever -- at the Paris Paralym🐈pics to be held from August 28 to September 8.
Jhajharia, who was elected as PCI chief in March, said there has been a tremendous change in ꦑpara sports in the country in the last 20 years and ඣin the way people accepted specially-abled people taking up to sport.
"There was a time when people asked me why I was taking up javelin throw, why I was wasting my time and life. But now when a para athlete🍒 lifts a javelin, people say go and try to become a Sumit Antil or Devendra Jhajhar❀ia.
"There has been a lot of changes in this country in para sports, the way people see to it and the way the government treatsജ para-s🦩ports in the same way as able-bodied sports.
"In 2004 Athens Paralympics, I competed with money from my own pocket. Now our p🧜ara athletes enjoy the same world class facilities enjoyed 𝔉by the able-bodied athletes and they also get to train and compete abroad."
India won 19♌ medals (5 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze) in Tokyo Paralympics for a 𒀰24th place in the tally and Jhajharia predicted that the country will win more than 25 medals in Paris and finish in top-20 in the tally.
"We had 54 participants in Tokyo and now we have 84 in Pari💎s, the largest ever, and our target in Paris is 25 medals and may be double-digit gold out of that, though I feel the colour of the medal is not that important than winning it."
Para-athletics offiཧcials said the country will win at least 12 m🙈edals and minimum five gold in Paris.
Asked about this, Jhajharia said, "Out of India's ꦏ84 participants in Paris, 38 are para-athletes and naturally they🍃 will win more medals.
"There is a reason for para-athl𒉰etes doing extremely well at global level. We are taking part and doing well in several top-class international events, whether it's Grand Prix events or World Championships."
Jhajharia,🐻 who is leaving for Paris on Sunday, will not be a part of th🎶e Indian contingent as a para-athlete but as an official, and he became nostalgic recollecting his last Games in Tokyo three years ago.
"When I see a𝓰 player throwing javelin, I suddenly become a player again. When Sumit Antil was throwing javelin the other day, I was having a different feeling inside that should I also start javelin throw again."
