India Shines on Day 9 of the Paris Paralympics 2024 – Praveen’s Gold and Hokato’s Bronze
Day 9 at the Paris Paralympics 2024 was a source of immense pride for India, with standout performances from athletes, resonating with Indian communities worldwide, including in Australia. The Indian diaspora, passionate about sporting achievements back home, celebrated as Praveen Kumar secured a gold in the men’s high jump T64 final, clearing 2.08 metres and setting a new Paralympic record. For many Indian Australians, such achievements evoke a deep sense of connection to their roots and a celebration of perseverance and determination.
Praveen, a 21-year-old athlete from Govindgarh near Noida, was born with a short leg. Initially a volleyball player, he transitioned to athletics and has had a remarkable career so far. He won a silver medal in Tokyo 2020 and gold in the Asian Para Games. His gold in Paris marks India’s sixth in this edition of the Paralympics, already surpassing the five golds from Tokyo 2020.
Another standout performance came from Hokato Hotozhe Sema, who won bronze in the men’s shot put F57 category with a throw of 14.65 metres, his personal best. The 40-year-old athlete from Nagaland, a former Indian Army officer who lost his leg in a landmine accident at the Line of Control in 2002, delivered a remarkable performance. Hokato’s bronze raised India’s overall medal tally to 27, including 12 bronze medals. He was not alone in the event; Soman Rana, also representing India, finished fifth with a throw of 14.07 metres.
Simran Sharma also added to India’s positive results by qualifying for the 200m T12 final. After narrowly missing a podium finish in the 100m sprint (finishing fourth with a time of 12.31 seconds), Simran displayed her form by topping her heat with a time of 25.41 seconds and later winning the semi-final with 25.03 seconds. The 24-year-old, who hails from Ghaziabad, hopes to turn her World Championship gold into a Paralympic triumph on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bhavanaben Chaudhary achieved a personal best in the women’s javelin throw F46 final with a throw of 39.70 metres, though it wasn’t enough to secure a medal as the top four competitors crossed the 40-metre mark. Nonetheless, her effort reflects the steady improvement of Indian athletes.
For Indian Australians, watching athletes like Praveen and Hokato achieve such monumental success is not just a celebration of Indian sport but a moment of shared pride, a reminder of the strong cultural bonds between India and its people across the world.
India continues to make its mark at the Paris Paralympics, with hopes for even more medal success in the remaining events.
