Indian athletes put up a sterling show at the 2016 Rio Paralympics Games. They won a total of four medals, including two golds. Devendra Jhajharia and Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold, while Deepak Malik and Varun Singh Bhati won silver and bronze, respectively.

India first took part in the third edition of the Paralympic Games in 1968. Since then, India have taken part in each of the Games (except in 1976 and 1980). This has been India’s best performance at the Paralympics. These games are for athletes with physical or mental disabilities.

Initiatives Leading to Success

Several factors over the years have led the country to this success at the Paralympics. The Indian government recently passed a corporate social responsibility law. It requires companies, based on their revenue, to contribute 2 percent of their profits to social development programs.

The government also launched a Target Olympic Podium Scheme, an initiative that has set aside more than $4 million for the program.

These cash incentives have made a world of difference to athletes, several of whom are from extremely humble backgrounds. Policy changes have also led to better media coverage and more awareness of the needs of athletes with disabilities.

These medallists from India have a reason to rejoice as the sports ministry has decided to confer them with the Khel Ratna next year. It is the highest sporting honour a sportsperson can receive in India. Such steps by the government will help play an important role in encouraging other athletes.

Meet The Medallist

Apart from their performances on the track and the field. These medallists also have some incredibly inspiring stories of how they overcame their problems.

Deepa Malik

Deepa Malik bagged a silver medal in the shot-put F-53 final with a throw of 4.61m. The 45-year-old from Haryana is the first Indian female athlete to win a medal at the Paralympics.

Malik paralyzed from the chest down, held a 6.5-pound shot put between her neck and right shoulder. She hurled the shot 15 feet across the throwing circle. This throw got Malik a silver at the Paralympic Games in Brazil.

There is almost nothing she seems to have not done. The 45-year-old is an accomplished swimmer, for which she received the Arjuna award in 2012. She has represented the Rajasthan women’s cricket team, is an avid biker, a certified car rallyist, and an entrepreneur.

Devendra Jhajharia

Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia won his second gold medal with a throw of 63.97 metres at the men’s F46 event. The 36-year-old beat his own 2004 Athens Paralympic record.

Jhajharia was mighty impressive in his performance as he broke his old world record to win gold. He also became the first Indian to have clinched two gold medals at the Paralympic games.

He has been described as “India’s one-armed javelin legend”. When he was 8, Jhajharia touched a live wire in his small North Indian village which led to his left arm being amputated.

After winning a host of medals on the national circuit, he won his first international gold. He even set a new record at the Para-Asian Games in 2002.

Mariyappan Thangavelu

Mariyappan Thangavelu found a way to turn his accident into a strength. It was his deformed right toe which he used to generate height during his jumps. This ultimately led to his jump of 1.89 metre at the Paralympics in the men’s T-42 high jump event to win a historic gold.

The 21-year-old is the first Indian to earn gold at a high jump event at the Paralympics. He also won the gold at the IPC Grand Prix earlier this year. He became world number 1 in 2015.

Varun Singh Bhati

India had a double bonanza in the men’s T-42 high jump. Varun Singh Bhati also took home the bronze in the men’s T-42 high jump event.

Bhati, who lives in Greater Noida, was afflicted by polio at a young age. A basketball player during his school days, he transitioned to high jump and excelled at the highest level.

He achieved the “A” qualification mark for the 2012 Paralympics in London, came fifth in the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, and took home a gold at the 2014 China Open Athletics Championship.

Bhati has gone one step higher and taken the bronze at Rio.  Sharad Kumar, the other Indian competing in the event finished sixth.

Proud moment for the country

What a performance it has been by India at this Game. India will remember this Paralympics for some time. With four medals in the bag, it has been India’s best-ever Games. India has not won these many medals at any of the Games, Paralympics or Olympics.

It has been that sort of Games that the athletes have shined and more importantly, we have seen that the Paralympics too can be put in the headlines. We hope that it is not a first and there can be some revolutionary sporting movement in India where these athletes can do it over and over again.

Sadly India are yet to take part in any of the winter Paralympics. There is absolutely no doubt that the sporting structure in India is not the best. We hope that the officials do everything to put that in order.

Click here for India’s overall performance at Paralympics

Picture Courtesy: Firstpost.com, IndianExpress.com