“The only disability in life is a bad attitude.” Scott Hamilton
The Paralympic Games are an attempt to provide an equal platform for athletes with disabilities to showcase their skills at a stage that lets them represent their countries. In order to differentiate between the various categories of legitimate disabilities, there are 10 categories, such as impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment.
“We are put in situations to build our character… not destroy us.” Nick Vujicic
An athlete might be disabled but he/she has confidence and courage like mountain to stand and face any kind of difficulties that he/she has to face in his/her life . These athletes have made their disability as their strength and because of their disability one day the whole world remembers them.
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Helen Keller
The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will be held from 7-18 September 2016.The Paralympic Games have taken place in the same year as the Olympic Games took place . Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will travel to Rio to compete in 528 medal events in 22 different sports.
“I can’t change it, That was God’s plan for my life and I’m going to go with it" Bethany Hamilton
History of Paralympic Games
The first organized Paralympic Games coincided with the Olympic Games which took place on the opening day of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. But before that also some disabled athletes had made their mark in sports .The first athlete to do so was German American gymnast George Eyser in 1904, who had one artificial leg.
India's Participation in Paralympic Games 2016
India has sent its largest delegation in the Paralympics 2016 represented by 19 athletes from the nation. Here is the list of 19 athletes who will represent the nation in Rio:
Here are the list of Paralympians to represent India in Paralympics 2016:
Athlete
|
Sports event
|
Mariyappan Thangavelu
|
High jump
|
Varun Singh Bhati
|
High jump
|
Sharad Kumar
|
High jump
|
Rampal Chahar
|
High jump
|
Pooja
|
Archery
|
Sundar Singh Gurjar
|
Javelin throw
|
Devendra Jhajaria
|
Javelin throw
|
Rinku
|
Javelin throw
|
Narender Ranbir
|
Javelin throw
|
Sandeep
|
Javelin throw
|
Amit Kumar Saroha
|
Club throw
|
Dharambir
|
Club throw
|
Deepa Malik
|
Shot put
|
Naresh Kumar Sharma
|
Shooting
|
Suyash Narayan Jadhav
|
Swimming
|
India's journey in Paralympic Games 2016.
Just a week has gone and Indian athletes have shown their ability by winning medals in Rio 2016 Paralympics
Devendra Jhajharia won gold and set a new world record in javelin throw F46 event in the Rio 2016 Paralympics
Deepa Malik bagged a silver medal in the women’s shotput F53 event, with a personal best throw of 4.61 metres.
Mariyappan Thangavelu had won gold in the Men’s High Jump T42 category with fellow Indian Varun Bhati taking bronze at the same event.
As an Indian we can hope for many more medals in Rio 2016 Paralympics. The whole nations is thankful to these athletes who have not only achieved their best but also made Indian national flag fly high at international arena.
