The 16th Edition of Paralympic Games is taking place in Tokyo, Japan from 24th August to 5th September, 2021.It is organised by International Paralympic Committee(IPC).
- A total of 22 sports are scheduled. For the 1st time, Badminton and Taekwondo will be making their debut at the 2020 Paralympic Games by replacing Sailing & 7-a-side Football.
- The official Mascot is ‘Someity’
- The opening ceremony took place at the Newly-built National Stadium, Tokyo.
- The Paralympic Games symbol of the “Three Agitos” has been installed on a giant floating platform in the Tokyo Bay area. The 94-tonne steel monument stands 17.5 m tall, is 23.4 m long and 2m wide.
- Tek Chand (Shot put Thrower & Javelin Thrower) was the flag-bearer of India in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo paralympics.He has been replaced on behalf of High-Jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan who was quarantined following close contact with a COVID-19 positive person on their flight to Tokyo.
India’s Performance
- India has won 7 Medals– 2 Gold, 4 Silver & 1 Bronze till August 30
Avani Lekhara wins Gold Medal in Shooting
Avani Lekhara (Rajasthan) has won the Gold Medal in the Women’s R2 10 m Air Rifle Standing 1 (SH 1) Shooting event by scoring 249.6 in the final.
- Zhang Cuiping of China won the Silver medal & Shchetnik Iryna of Ukraine took the Bronze Medal.
- Avani became the 1st Indian Woman to win a Gold Medal at the Paralympics & 4th Indian Gold medal at the Paralympics.
- The 18-year old has set a Paralympics record by scoring 249.6 and also equalling the World record.
Javelin Throw:
Sumit Antil wins Gold Medal in Javelin Throw, F-64
Sumit Antil (Haryana) has won the Gold Medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw F-64 event by throwing a distance of 68.55 m in the finals.
- Burian Michal of Australia & Kodithuwakku Dulan (Sri Lanka) have won Silver & Bronze Medals respectively.
- This is India’s 2nd gold in the Tokyo Paralympics and the 1st in athletics.
- The F64 category is for athletes with a leg amputation, who compete with prosthetics in a standing position.
Devendra Jhajharia & Sundar Singh Gurjar wins SIlver & Bronze respectively in Javelin Throw, F-46
i.Devendra Jhajharia (Rajasthan) has won the Silver Medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw, F-46 category by throwing a distance of 64.35 m.
- This marks the 3rd Individual Medal in Paralympics for Devendra, after his 2 Gold medals (2004 Athens Paralympics & 2016 Rio Paralympics)
ii.Sundar Singh Gurjar (Rajasthan) won the Bronze medal by scoring 64.01m & D.Priyantha (Sri Lanka) has won the Gold medal by throwing 67.79 m in the finals.
iii.The F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms, with athletes competing in a standing position.
Bhavinaben Patel wins Silver Medal in Table Tennis
Bhavinaben Patel (Gujarat) won the Silver Medal in the Women’s Singles Class 4 Table Tennis event by losing 7-11, 5-11, 6-11 in the finals.
- Zhou Ying of China won the Gold & Zhang Miao of China took the bronze medal.
- The 34-year old Patel is the 1st player from India to reach the Paralympics final in a Table tennis event.
Yogesh Kathuniya wins Silver Medal in Discus Throw
Yogesh Kathuniya (Delhi) has won the Silver Medal in Men’s Discus Throw F-56 by scoring 44.38 m in the final.
- Batista dos Santos Claudiney of Brazil won Gold & Diaz al Dana of Cuba won the Bronze medal.
- This was his debut event at the Paralympics games.
Nishad Kumar wins Silver Medal in High Jump
NIshad Kumar (Himachal Pradesh) has won the Silver medal in the Men’s High Jump T-47 category by jumping 2.06 m in the finals.
- He shared the Silver Medal with Dallas Wise (United States) scoring 2.06m and the Gold medal was won by Roderick Townsend-Roberts (United States) by jumping 2.15 m in the finals.
Vinod Kumar stripped off from the bronze medal in Discuss Throw
Vinod Kumar lost his bronze medal that he clinched in the men’s F52 discus throw event on 29th August after the competition panel found that he was ‘ineligible’ under disability classification assessment.
F52 is for athletes with impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference, with athletes competing in seated position with cervical cord injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, and functional disorder.
About International Paralympic Committee(IPC):
President – Andrew Parsons
Headquarters – Bonn, Germany
