New Delhi: A 84-member team is all set represent India in the Paris Paralympics 2024. Few members of the contingent left for Paris, said reports on Sunday.
In the 113th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Paralympics are also starting in the coming days in Paris. Our Divyang brothers and sisters have reached there. 140 crore Indians are cheering for their athletes and players.”
President of the Paralympic Committee of India, Devendra Jhajharia said t0 ANI, “I have been a part of Paralympics for over 20 years now. I know every athlete personally. I know their game and their performance… 50 athletes are going for the Paralympics as part of the TOPS scheme. 16 players of our first para-games are also going… We have helped many athletes through CSR sponsorship. Seeing the hard work and training put in by our athletes over three years, I can say that we will win more than 25 medals and India will be among the top 20 in the medal tally… We have undertaken the Paris Paralympics as our mission… Out of our 84-member team, all are equally capable of winning a medal… Back when I went for my first Paralympics in 2004 and won a medal, nobody recognised me, there was no media at the airport to receive me. I spent my own money to fund my expenses. Now, PM Narendra Modi has given para-athletes a new identity…”
Ahead of leaving for the Paris Paralympics 2024, Para-Badminton player Manisha Ramadass said, “…I am under TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme). TOPS has helped us a lot. It is supporting us financially, in practice and for the tournaments. They are spending a lot on us. I hope I will come back with a medal.”
Ahead of leaving for the Paris Paralympics 2024, Para-athlete Sachin Sarjerao Khilari said, “I am very excited as this is my first Olympics. I have participated in 2 World Championships. I have done a lot of hard work for this…I hope I will come back with gold… The Paralympic Committee of India and the Paralympic Committee of Maharashtra have worked a lot on me. So, I hope to perform well. I have been playing since 2007…I have been in TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) since 2022. I am getting all the requisite facilities from the Indian government…”
