NEW DELHI: Dilip Mahadu Gavit won a gold medal on Saturday, marking the 100th medal won by Indian para-athletes at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. In the Men’s 400m T47 event, Gavit took home the gold medal. With a great run time of 49.48 seconds, he won the coveted gold. This is the Indian para contingent’s most successful Para Asian Games campaign to date, having won 100 medals for the first time. India has claimed 26 gold, 29 silver, and 45 bronze medals as of the publication of this article. What makes this achievement at the current 4th Asian Para Games so remarkable is that India’s para-athletes have exceeded the 100-medal mark in the Asian Games.The best medal haul for the nation was at the Jakarta 2018 Para Games. At that time, a total of 72 medals were secured, comprising of 15 gold, 24 silver, and 33 bronze. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated them on their achievement and stated that everyone would be inspired by their victories. “The Asian Para Games feature 100 medals! A moment of unmatched happiness. Our athletes’ unwavering talent, diligence, and willpower have led to this accomplishment. This incredible accomplishment makes us very proud. My sincere gratitude and admiration go out to our amazing athletes, coaches, and the full support staff that works with them. These victories motivate us all. The Prime Minister wrote on X, “They serve as a reminder that nothing is impossible for our youth.” Anita and Narayana Konganapalle, rowers, extended India’s medal parade on the final day of the prestigious Games on Saturday by winning a silver medal in the PR3 Mixed Doubles Sculls. With a performance of 8:50.71, the mixed doubles duo secured a podium position. At the athletic event on Friday, Suyansh Narayan Jadhav won the first gold medal for India in swimming with a time of 32.22 seconds in the Men’s 50m Butterfly-S7 category. With a leap of 6.80 metres in the Men’s Long Jump T64 category, Solairaj Dharmaraj set a new Asian and Games record and won India’s 25th gold medal and 98th overall at the Asian Para Games 2023. On Saturday, the Indian delegation will aim to carry on its winning run in rowing, chess, and athletics. 17 medals were won by Indian para-athletes in all, including 7 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze on Friday. After winning gold in the Archery compound open event, Sheetal Devi got her day off to a great start. With a leap of 6.80 metres, Dharmaraj Solairaj took home the gold in the men’s T-64 long jump competition. The men’s doubles SL3-SL4 badminton gold medal went to Nitesh Kumar and Tarun of India. With two podium finishes, India dominated the men’s SL3 badminton singles competition. The much sought-after gold medal went to Pramod Bhagat, while Nitesh Kumar got the silver. In the badminton women’s singles SU5 class, Thulasimathi defeated China’s Quixia Yang 2-0 to win the gold medal. With a time of 4:20.80, Raman Sharma had earlier won gold in the men’s 1500-meter T-38 event.
