54-member Indian team for Tokyo Paralympics accorded warm send-off

The
team
has
some
of
the
brightest
medal
prospects
like
Devendra
Jhajharia,
seeking
his
third
Paralympics
gold
(after
2004
and
2016)
in
F-46
javelin
throw,
Mariyappan
Thangavelu
(T-63
high
jump)
and
world
champion
Sandeep
Choudhary
(F-64
javelin
throw).

India
will
compete
in
nine
sports.
Mariyappan,
who
had
won
a
gold
in
the
last
edition
in
Rio,
will
be
the
flag
bearer
of
the
Indian
contingent
during
the
opening
ceremony
on
August
24.
The
Tokyo
Paralympics
will
end
on
September
5.
The
Tokyo-bound
players
were
part
of
the
event
virtually
as
they
are
in
strict
bio-bubble.

“The
ambition
and
self-confidence
of
our
para
athletes
give
inspiration
to
1.3
billion
Indians.
In
front
of
their
courage,
the
biggest
of
challenges
bow.
And
they
deserve
every
bit
of
it,”
Thakur
said
in
a
video
message.

“The
number
of
our
para
athletes
participating
in
the
upcoming
Games
is
three
times
bigger
than
the
last
edition.
I
have
full
faith
in
your
abilities.
I
believe
that
your
performance
too
will
be
better
than
last
time.”

He
said
it’s
a
matter
of
great
pride
and
satisfaction
that
the
para
athletes
have
so
far
won
three
Khel
Ratna,
seven
Padma
Shri
and
33
Arjuna
awards.

“It’s
not
easy
at
all
but
your
hard
work,
the
desire
to
win
and
your
passion
translate
all
the
challenges
into
triumphs.
I
know
when
you
go
to
Tokyo
Games,
you
will
go
with
only
one
thought
—
to
better
India’s
ranking
in
the
medals
tally
from
before.”

Thakur
said
Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
has
done
his
best
to
motivate
the
country’s
athletes
before
and
during
the
Tokyo
Olympics
and
will
do
the
same
for
the
para
athletes
also.

India
achieved
its
best
ever
performance
in
the
Paralympic
Games
in
the
2016
Rio
Games
with
two
gold,
one
silver
and
one
bronze
medal.

PCI
president
Deepa
Malik,
who
herself
had
won
a
silver
medal
in
shot
put
at
Rio
2016
Games,
said,
“The
games
will
not
be
the
same
again
after
Tokyo2020
Paralympics.
We
are
going
to
see
a
record
haul
of
medals
as
our
athletes
are
in
prime
form.”

PCI
secretary
general
Gursharan
Singh
will
be
the
chef
de
mission
of
the
Indian
team.
Badminton
will
make
its
debut
at
the
Paralympic
Games,
which
will
feature
as
many
as
seven
Indian
shuttlers.
Indian
fans
can
catch
all
the
Live
action
of
the
country’s
para
athletes
on
Eurosports
and
DD
Sports.
PCI
has
awarded
the
rights
to
broadcast
the
Paralympics
live
to
Eurosport
India.
India
will
start
its
campaign
on
August
27,
with
men’s
and
women’s
archery
events.