Synopsis
Haryana triumphed in the 23rd National Paralympic Athletics Championship, winning 49 golds, 32 silvers, and 25 bronzes. Tamil Nadu finished second, and Uttar Pradesh took third place. The event showcased exceptional performances from para-athletes across India, emphasizing their strength and resilience.Key Takeaways
- Haryana secured the top position with 49 gold medals.
- Exceptional performances from para-athletes across various events.
- Tamil Nadu hosted the championship with significant participation.
- Prominent dignitaries attended the closing ceremony.
- The event highlighted India's sporting excellence in para-athletics.
Chennai, Feb 20 (NationPress) Haryana claimed victory as the overall champion of the 23rd National Paralympic Athletics Championship, amassing an impressive collection of 49 gold, 32 silver, and 25 bronze medals. The host state, Tamil Nadu, secured second place with 17 gold, 18 silver, and 12 bronze medals, while Uttar Pradesh took third with 14 gold, 17 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
Rajasthan finished in fourth place with 13 gold, 22 silver, and 26 bronze, while Maharashtra rounded out the top five with 11 gold, 3 silver, and 13 bronze. The championship, hosted in Tamil Nadu from February 18 to 20, showcased outstanding performances from para-athletes nationwide.
The closing ceremony featured Lt Gen. Karanbir Singh Brar as the chief guest, alongside notable figures from the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), including Chandrasekhar (vice president, PCI), Sathya Narayanan (chief coach, PCI), Sathya Parkash Sangwan (vice-president, PCI), Jayawant Gundu Hamanawar (secretary general, PCI), and Sunil Pradhan (treasurer, PCI).
On the final day of competition, athletes showcased remarkable talent across various disciplines. In the discus throw events, Pradeep Kumar from SSCB won gold in the F62/F64 category with a throw of 44.00m, while Rakesh, also from SSCB, triumphed in the F42/F43/F44 category with a distance of 49.52m.
Haryana’s Devender Kumar took silver in this event with a throw of 49.01m, followed closely by Shubham Dhull, who claimed bronze with 46.23m. In the women’s events, Priyanka Sharma of Delhi sprinted to victory in the 200m T35/T36/T37 final, finishing in 38.11 seconds, with Harshita Tater of Karnataka and Babanpreet Kaur from Chandigarh taking silver and bronze.
Haryana’s Ekta Bhyan, the reigning world champion, maintained her dominance in the club throw F32/F51 event, winning gold with a distance of 20.14m. Durga Gahlot from Rajasthan secured silver, while Haryana’s Geeta Rani took bronze.
The men’s discus throw F37 event witnessed fierce competition, with Haryana’s Bhavishay winning gold with a throw of 44.27m, followed closely by his teammate Haney, who secured silver with 44.13m. Ankit, also from Haryana, finished with bronze. Dharambir, another notable athlete from Haryana, clinched gold in the men’s discus throw F51 event with an impressive throw of 10.91m, while Ram Ratan Singh from Uttar Pradesh and Alexander Mani from Tamil Nadu took silver and bronze, respectively.
The endurance events provided thrilling moments, especially in the men’s 5000m races. Rajesh Yadav from Rajasthan triumphed in the T13 category, clocking 16:26.75s, while Sharath M.S. from Karnataka took gold in the T12 category with a time of 15:50.49s. Athletes from West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi also delivered strong performances in the distance events.
Organized by the Tamil Nadu Sports Development Authority and the Tamil Nadu Paralympic Sports Association, the championship saw participation from 1,476 para-athletes across 30 states and union territories, competing in 155 events.
Tamil Nadu sent a contingent of 185 athletes, making it one of the largest representations in the tournament. This event highlighted the determination, strength, and sporting excellence of India’s para-athletes, paving the way for future international competitions.
