India topped the medal chart at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, securing 134 medals: 45 gold, 40 silver, and 49 bronze. Key performances included Vanessa Low winning gold in long jump T61-64 and Preethi Pal winning bronze in the 200m T35-38. India has also committed to host the Grand Prix annually until 2028.
India achieved remarkable success at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, finishing with a total of 134 medals, including 45 golds, 40 silvers, and 49 bronzes. The event saw approximately 150 Indian athletes competing among a total of 250 participants from 19 nations. Notably, Australian long jumper Vanessa Low secured gold in the T61-64 class, demonstrating her prowess by achieving a distance of 4.96 meters on her third attempt.
Among the top performances, Indian athlete Preethi Pal won bronze in the T35-38 class 200m race, having previously secured silver in the 100m event. She clocked 31.50 seconds to finish behind Australia’s Rhiannon Clarke and neutral athlete Margarita Goncharova, who won gold and silver respectively. Preethi made history during the 2024 Paris Paralympics, becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals in track and field at the Games.
In addition to athletics achievements, India has signed a four-year agreement with the World Para Athletics to host the Grand Prix annually until 2028, further solidifying its commitment to supporting para-athletics. The event highlighted the participation of neutral athletes as well, where they also took several medals across various categories.
The men’s shot put F11–F20 event witnessed an Indian sweep, with Sagar, Janka Singh, and Balaji Rajendran taking gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. Other notable results include gold medal victories by Irina Sapanzha and Denis Gnezdilov in long jump T20–T37 and shot put F40–F41, along with impressive sprinting performances from neutral athletes in the men’s 200m T35 race.
India’s outstanding performance at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix showcased its growing prowess in para-athletics, highlighted by a total of 134 medals. Individual achievements, particularly by athletes such as Preethi Pal and Vanessa Low, contributed to a memorable event. The commitment to host the Grand Prix annually until 2028 marks a significant step for Indian athletics, fostering future talent and competition on an international stage.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
