Success Stories of Persons with Disabilities in Sports in India

Murlikant Petkar won a gold medal in swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to achieve this feat.

Devendra Jhajharia has won a total of four Paralympic medals, including two golds, one silver, and one bronze, making him the most successful Indian para-athlete at the Paralympics.

Devendra Jhajharia won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F46 event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, setting a new world record in the process.

Deepa Malik won a gold medal in the women's shot put F53 event at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.

Yogesh Kathuniya won a gold medal in the men's discus throw F56 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, setting a new world record in the process.

Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold medal in the men's long jump T42 event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, setting a new Asian record in the process.

Nishad Kumar won a gold medal in the men's high jump T47 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, setting a new Asian record in the process.

Pradeep Singh won a gold medal in the men's wheelchair racing T54 event at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in athletics at the Paralympics.

Suyash Jadhav won a gold medal in the men's swimming S5 200m freestyle event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, setting a new Asian record in the process.

Pramod Bhagat won a gold medal in the men's badminton SL3 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in badminton at the Paralympics.

Bhavina Patel won a gold medal in the women's table tennis TT6 event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in table tennis at the Paralympics.

Sakina Khatun won a gold medal in the women's powerlifting event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games.

Harvinder Singh won a gold medal in the men's archery individual recurve event at the 2016 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in archery at the Paralympics.

Manish Narwal won a gold medal in the men's shooting P4 mixed 50m pistol SH1 event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, setting a new world record in the process.

The Indian men's wheelchair basketball team won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games, defeating Japan in the final.

Aruna Tanwar won a gold medal in the women's boccia BC4 individual event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in boccia at the Paralympics.

The Indian men's goalball team won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games, defeating Iran in the final.

The Indian men's cricket team won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, defeating England in the final.

Bhagyashree Satheesh won a gold medal in the women's chess individual event at the 2020 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to win a gold medal in chess at the Paralympics.