India has sent its largest ever contingent for the Paralympics, with as many as 19 athletes taking part in the Rio Games starting September 8. There is hope that the country can build on the solitary medal it won in London 2012. Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, the gold medal winner from Athens 2004, will also be a part of the event, which will be held from September 8-18.
Hopes are high from shot putter Deepa Malik and the high jump specialist, Mariappan Thangavelu, to be among the medals. India have won a total of eight medals overall. Here are the dates and times when each of India's 19 athletes are competing.
Farman Basha – power-lifting 49 kg: September 8, 9:30 pm IST
Farman Basha is competing in his fourth Paralympics and will be eager to set the record straight by winning a medal for India. He bagged gold in the 2007 World Games in Taiwan and followed it up with a gold in 2009. He won silver in the 2006 Asian Championship.
Ranbir Narender – men's javelin throw: September 10, 2:00 am IST
The Haryana-based athlete has been consistent over the last few years, earning a silver medal in the Para Asian games in 2014. However, it was his terrific showing in the Para World Championships in 2015 that has put him in the limelight, and is also given a chance to win a medal.
Varun Bhati – men's high jump: September 10, 2:00 am IST
The 21-year-old Bhati is seen as a dark horse among the Indian contingent after finishing fifth in the Para Asian Games. However, he has bagged a gold medal at the 2014 China Open Athletics Championship.
Mariyappan Thangavelu – men's high jump: September 10, 2:00 am IST
Armed with youthful exuberance and immense self-belief, Tamil Nadu's Mariappan Thangavelu thinks he can go all the way in the Paralympics. In the IPL Grand Prix event in Tunisia earlier in the year, Thangavelu leaped 1.78m to cruise into the Paralympics. A repeat of the aforementioned performance will certainly take the 20-year-old Thangavelu in contention for a medal.
Sharad Kumar – men's high jump: September 10, 2:00 am IST
Sharad Kumar won the gold medal at the Para Asian Games in Incheon and also broke a 12-year tournament record by clearing a height of 1.80m. He missed the London Games because he was serving a ban after being caught taking steroids. However, with that chapter behind him, Kumar will hope to bag gold once again.
Sandeep – javelin throw: September 10, 2:00 am IST
Completing India's formidable list of javelin throwers, world No. 2 Sandeep is a national record holder at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix. At 20, Sandeep is one of the youngest Indian athletes, and stands a good chance of springing up a surprise at the Games.
Amit Saroha – men's club throw: September 12, 2:00 am IST
A Paralympian and an Arjuna Awardee, Amit Saroha suffered a car accident when he was 22, causing him to become a quadriplegic due to compression of the spinal cord. Before his injury, Saroha was a national-level hockey player. He won the gold medal in club throw and silver medal in Discus throw at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon (Korea). He has also represented India at the 2012 London Games.
Naresh Sharma – 50m Rifle 3: September 12, 6:00 pm IST
Among the most experienced contenders, shooter Naresh Sharma will be participating in his fifth Paralympics. In all probability, the 42-year-old will be playing in his last tournament, looking to improve on his fifth-placed finish in Beijing 2008. Sharma was the first Paralympian to book a place in the tournament.
Deepa Malik – women's shotput: September 12, 6:30 pm IST
The 45-year-old Deepa Malik has been consistently winning medals over the years and big things are expected from her. Under controversial circumstances, the multi-faceted athlete didn't make the cut for London 2012. With as many as 13 international medals to her name, the javelin thrower-turned-shot-putter is one of India's front-runners for a medal.
Suyash Jadhav – men's swimming: September 12, 6:30pm IST
Following in the footsteps of his father, who was a national-level swimmer himself, young Jadhav started swimming and aspired to fulfill his father’s destiny one day by competing and winning medals at the international stage. Last year, Jadhav became the first Indian para swimmer to record the ‘A’ qualifying mark for 2016 Paralympics in Rio. He has won three silver medals at the 2016 German swimming championship. He also bagged one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the 2015 Winter Open Polish Championship in Poland.
Ankur Dhama – men's 1500m: September 12, 6:30pm IST
Dhama was born in a small village in Uttar Pradesh, and started suffering from a gradual loss in vision when he was four years old. By the time he turned five, he lost his complete eye vision. However, that did not deter him to be the runner he is today. He has won gold in 1500m and the bronze medal in 800m at the 2014 Sharjah Open Championship. He bagged two gold medals (800m and 1500m) at the 2012 Malaysian Open Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
Virender Dhankar – javelin throw: September 13, 2:00 am IST / shotput: September 17, 6.30 pm IST
Virender Dhankar is the only Indian to participate in two separate events in the Paralympics. A Kabaddi player before an accident took away his right leg, the Haryana-based athlete is ranked fourth in javelin throw and fifth in shotput. In both his chosen disciplines, Dhankar stands an excellent chance of finishing on the podium and has the credentials to boot too, winning the shotput and the javelin events during the 2015 National Championships.
Devendra Jhajaria – men's javelin throw: September 14, 2:00 am IST
Jhajaria became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Paralympics when he created a world record by registering a throw of 62.15m. At 35, Jhajaria has a sterner test on his hands but he is still in the group of athletes who are expected to end up on the podium. Last year, the Rajasthan-based thrower earned a silver medal in the world championships at Doha.
Rinku Hooda – men's javelin throw: September 14, 2:00 am IST
Hooda is all of 17 and qualified for Rio with an 'A' mark, and will be contesting in the same category as Jhajaria. The youngest athlete among the Indian contingent beat all odds to become one of the five Indian Javelin throwers to qualify for the Paralympics. Hooda also won bronze in the Para Athletics championships earlier in the year.
Sundar Gurjar – men's javelin throw: September 14, 2:00 am IST
Sundar Gurjar is one of the rising stars in India's track and field team. With the javelin throw being his best bet, or rather favourite sport, this athlete is set to take Rio by storm when begins his quest to bag a medal for India.
Pooja – women's archery: September 15, 5:30 pm IST
The 26-year-old clinched qualification by finishing fifth in the National Para Archery tournament in May. She has her task cut out to win a medal, having to face stiff competition from the prolific Iranian shooter, Zahra Nemati, who is tipped to defend her gold medal.
Dharambir – men's club throw: September 16, 6:30 pm IST
Dharambir became familiar with para sports in 2014 and took to club throw under the guidance of his mentor and fellow para athlete Amit Saroha. Within a span of just two years, Dharambir secured the ‘A’ qualification mark at the 2016 Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai and then subsequently confirmed his qualification for the 2016 Paralympic Games.
Rampal Chahar – men's high jump: September 17, 2:00 am IST
In 2013, Rampal Chahar left his job to pursue to the sport. He loved pushing himself and eventually broke the national record as well. In 2016, Rampal took part in his very first international tournament at the IPC Grand Prix in Tunisia, winning the gold medal with a jump of 1.85 m – a mark comfortably surpassing the ‘A’ qualification for Rio 2016, which stands at 1.65 m. A bright medal prospect, India will keep a keen eye on his performance.
Karam Jyoti - women's discus throw: September 17, 6:30 pm IST
Like Malik, discus thrower Karam Jyoti is also viewed as a medal prospect, despite her relative inexperience. Karam Jyoti hauled her way into the reckoning after winning a bronze medal in the Asian Games. With her best throw, the 29-year-old can become the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Paralympic Games.
