The 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio was momentous for India in more ways than one. The country sent its largest ever contingent for the Game...
The 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio was momentous for India in more ways than one. The country sent its largest ever contingent for the Games and returned with its best medal haul in history.
At the previous Paralympic Games in London, India had won just one medal but there were hopes of bettering that from the 19-member contingent in Rio. And the athletes delivered in Brazil.
India has participated in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since 1968, except for the 1976 and 1980 editions. Heading into the Rio Games, India had won a total of eight medals in all previous editions combined. But the athletes stepped up and added four more medals to the country’s tally in Rio.
There were 19 Indian athletes – 16 men and three women – participating across five sports at the Rio Paralympics. Devendra Jhajharia and Mariyappan Thangavelu returned with gold medals, Deepa Malik won silver, and Varun Singh Bhati bagged bronze.
India's medals at Paralympics (by year)
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1984 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 1972 | 1...
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