India at the Paralympics: A brief history

By A STAFF REPORTER: The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960, following the Stoke Mandeville Games of 1948 and 1952. The first Paralympic Games were open only to war veterans.

India first participated in the Paralympic Games in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1968. A total of 10 athletes, including eight men and two women, were sent to the Games as part of the Indian delegation. India returned home that year without a medal.

Four years later, in 1972, India won its first medal at the Paralympics at the Heidelberg Games in Germany. Indian para-swimmer Murlikant Petkar set a world record in the 50m freestyle with a time of 37.331 seconds.

India did not participate in the 1976 and 1980 Paralympics after winning their first gold medal in 1972. India then participated in the Paralympics in 1984 again. At the 1984 Paralympics, India finished 37th with South Korea and won four medals.

From 1988 to 2000, Indian teams did not make a good place at the Paralympics. However, in the 2004 Paralympics held in Athens, Greece, India won two medals – one gold and one silver.

India won four medals at the 2016 Rio Games again. All four medals came from athletics, making it an important role for Indian Paralympians. Then at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Indian athletes created history by winning 19 medals, including five gold. This year, India aims to win more than 25 medals.