Meet The Women Athletes Representing India At Paris Paralympics 2024

The Paris Paralympics 2024 is scheduled from August 28 to September 8. India's top athletes are set to put their best foot forward and bring laurels to the country on the global stage. This year, 84 athletes are set to represent the nation, with women making up 32 participants. In Tokyo 2020, Indian Paralympians won 19 medals—five gold, eight silver, and six bronze. As the country counts on the athletes to increase the tally this year, here is a list of all the hopeful women medallists to cheer for.

Para Archery

Six para-athletes, three men and three women, are set to compete in archery events in Paris. 

1. Sheetal Devi: Armless archer Sheetal Devi, who won big at the Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou, is set to compete in Paris in the Women’s Individual Compound Open and Mixed Team Compound Open (Category - ST). She is reportedly the world's only woman to use her legs in para-archery.

2. Pooja Jatyan: Pooja Jatyan is competing in the Women’s Individual Recurve Open and Mixed Team Recurve Open (Category - ST). In 2022, she made history as the first Indian para-archer to win a silver medal in an individual event at the World Championships in Dubai.

3. Sarita Adhana: She will participate in the Women’s Individual Compound Open and Mixed Team Compound Open (Category - W2). She won silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and gold at the 2023 Para Archery World Championship in the mixed team event with Rakesh Kumar.

Para Shooting

Ten para shooters are set to participate in shooting events.

4. Avani Lekhara: Rifle shooter and Tokyo 2020 double champion Avani Lekhara is participating in three events in Paris-- R2- Women’s 10m Air Rifle Std SH1; R3- Mixed 10m Air Rifle Prn SH1; and R8- Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions SH1. She is the first Indian woman to win multiple medals at the Paralympics.

5. Mona Agarwal: Mona Agarwal earned her Paris Paralympics quota when she won gold in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 category at the WSPS Para Shooting World Cup in March 2024. She is competing in the R2 - Women’s 10m Air Rifle Std SH1; R6 - Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1; and R8 - Women’s 50m Rifle 3 Pos. SH1.

6. Rubina Francis: Rubina Francis is taking a second shot at the Paralympics after previously competing in the Tokyo 2020 edition. The 25-year-old is competing in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 event in Paris. She ranks among the Top 5 in world rankings, according to the International Shooting Sport Federation.

Para Athletics

India has sent 38 athletes for track events at the Paris Paralympics.

7. Deepthi Jeevanji: Deepthi Jeevanji secured a Paris Paralympics quota when she set a world record in the women’s 400m T20 category at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan in May 2024. She is also the first Indian to win gold in track events at a World Championships.

8. Preethi Pal: Uttar Pradesh-native Preethi Pal is competing in the Women’s 100m - T35 and Women’s 200m - T35 events at the Paris Paralympics. The 23-year-old clinched the bronze medal in the women's T35 200m event at the World Para Athletics Championships in May 2024.

9. Bhagyashri Jadhav: Shot putter Bhagyashri Jadhav is set to compete in the Women’s Shot Put - F34 event at the Paris Paralympics. This will be her second appearance at the Paralympics. The athlete from Maharashtra won a silver medal in the F34 category at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. 

10. Sakshi Kasana: Sakshi Kasana is competing in the Women’s Discus Throw- F55 event at the Paralympics. The 23-year-old won a bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. She also made headlines when she won silver at the National Para Athletics Championship at Bengaluru in 2021.

11. Karamjyoti Dalal: Marking her second Paralympic qualification, Karamjyoti Dalal is set to earn laurels in the Women’s Discus Throw- F55 event in Paris. The distinguished athlete from Haryana also took part in the Rio Paralympics. She won a silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games.

12. Rakshitha Raju: Rakshitha Raju is set to make history as the first Indian athlete to qualify for the Women’s 1500-metre- T11 at the Paralympics. The visually impaired athlete won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games, earning praise from the Prime Minister of India.

13. Amisha Rawat: Competing in Women’s Shot Put - F46 is Uttarakhand native Amisha Rawat. The para-athlete won a bronze medal in javelin at her first international event at the Grand Prix of Switzerland in 2022. She has also won many gold medals in 100m and 200m track and field.

14. Bhavanaben Chaudhary: Bhavanaben Ajabaji Chaudhary of Gujarat is competing in the Women’s Javelin Throw - F46 event at the Paris Paralympics. The 26-year-old para-athlete has also represented India at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

15. Simran Sharma: In May 2024, Simran Sharma secured her berth for the Paralympics when she won gold in the Women’s 200m- T12 at the World Para Athletics Championships.in Kobe, Japan. She is competing in the Women's 200m and 100m- T12 events in Paris.

16. Kanchan Lakhani: Kanchan Lakhani of Faridabad is representing India in the Women’s Discus Throw - F53 category at the Paris Paralympics. The Paralympics debutante won a gold medal at the Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship in Bengaluru in 2023.

Para-Badminton

13 Indians are competing in badminton at the Paris Paralympics.

17. Manasi Joshi: Manasi Girishchandra Joshi is competing in the Women's Singles SL3 category. The 25-year-old decorated athlete has been a World Champion and was once ranked World No. 1 in women's singles para-badminton by the Badminton World Federation.

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18. Mandeep Kaur: Uttarakhand-born Mandeep Kaur is also representing India in the Women’s Singles SL3 category at the Paris Paralympics. She won two bronze medals at the 2022 Asian Para Games-- one in women's singles SL3 and another in women's doubles event with Manisha Ramadass.

19. Manisha Ramadass: Manisha Ramadass is competing in the Women’s Singles SU5 event. The Tamil Nadu native para-badminton pro has been ranked World No. 1 in her category by the Badminton World Federation. She has won numerous medals, including one gold, at the World Championships.

20. Palak Kohli: Palak Kohli is competing in two events-- Women’s Singles SL4 and Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 at the Paris Paralympics. The Jalandhar-born athlete won a bronze medal for India at the 2024 BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.

21. Thulasimathi Murugesan: Kancheepuram native Thulasimathi Murugesan is competing in two categories-- Women’s Singles SU5, Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5. She has won laurels in the SL3-SU5 and SU5 categories at many competitions. She also represented India at the 2022 Asian Para Games.

22. Nithya Sre Sivan: Nithya Sre Sivan will partake in Women’s Singles SH6 and Mixed Doubles SH6 events at the Paris Paralympics. She won two bronze medals at the Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou. She has also won gold medals at numerous international para-badminton events. 

Para Table Tennis

Two athletes, both women, are competing in table tennis events. 

23. Bhavina Hasmukhbai Patel: Tokyo 2020 silver medallist (Class 4) Bhavina Patel is back on the Paralympics stage to compete in the Women’s Singles- WS4 and Women’s Doubles- WD10 events in Paris. She won a gold medal for India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in Singles C3–5.

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24. Sonalben Patel: Gujarat native Sonalben Patel is competing in two events at the Paris Paralympics-- Women’s Singles- WS3 and Women’s Doubles- WD10. In the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, she won a bronze medal in the women's singles C3-5 event.

Para Canoe

Two out of the three Indian para canoeists are women. 

25. Prachi Yadav: Prachi Yadav is competing in the Women’s Va’a Single 200m VL2 at the Paris Paralympics. She made history as the first Indian para canoe athlete to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. The trailblazer has won dozens of medals for India at global events.

26. Pooja Ojha: Madhya Pradesh-born Pooja Ojha is competing in the Women’s Kayak Single 200m -KL1. In May 2024, she won a silver medal for India at the Para Canoe World Championship in Hungary. She won India's first medal at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Halifax, Canada in 2022.

Para Cycling

One woman and one man have been selected to represent India in para-cycling.

27. Jyoti Gaderiya: Jyoti Radheshyam Gaderiya has secured a Paris Paralympics spot to compete in four events-- Road - Women’s C1-3 Ind. Time Trial; Road - Women’s C1-3 Road Race; Track - Women’s C1-3 500m Time Trial; and Track - Women’s C1-3 3000m Ind. Pursuit.

Blind Judo

One woman and one man have been selected to represent India in blind judo.

28. Kokila Kaushiklate: Kokila Kaushiklate will participate in the Women’s -48kg J2 category of blind judo at the Paris Paralympics. The three-time national champion won a bronze medal in the Judo Women's 48-kg J2 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games among many other medals. 

Para Powerlifting

Four para powerlifters are qualified from India

29. Sakina Khatun: Sakina Khatun of Bengaluru is competing in the Women’s up to 45kg category in powerlifting. The 35-year-old won a silver medal in 61kg at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal in 50kg at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games.

30. Kasthuri Rajamani: Kasthuri Rajamani from Tamil Nadu is representing India in the Women’s up to 67kg event at the Paris Paralympics. The 39-year-old debutante has also participated in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. She ranked seventh on the 'Road to Paris’ rankings.

Para Rowing

One woman and one man have been selected to represent India in para-rowing.

31. Anita: Anita from Rajasthan will be competing in the para-rowing event at the Paris Paralympics, making waves in the PR3 Mix Dbl Sculls-PR3Mix2x event with Narayana Konganapalle. They won a silver medal in the PR3 mixed doubles sculls at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China.

Para-Taekwondo 

Only one Indian para-taekwondo athlete has qualified for the Paris Paralympics.

32. Aruna Tanwar: Second-time Paralympian Aruna Tanwar is competing in the Women’s K44- 47kg in Taekwondo in Paris. She won a bronze medal for India at the 2022 Asian Para Games. She became the first-ever Indian Taekwondo athlete to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics Olympic Games.