Paris Paralympics: How India fared on August 31, 2024

Clubfooted shooter Rubina Francis extended India's medal-winning run at the Paris Paralympics with a bronze in the women's 10m Air Pistol SH1 event on Saturday, when the country's shuttlers Nitesh Kumar and Sukant Kadam progressed to the semi-finals.

Rubina's bronze was India's fourth medal from the shooting range and fifth overall. The 25-year-old from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, aggregated 211.1 to finish third in the eight-woman final, behind Iran's Sareh Javanmardi (236.8) and Turkey's Aysel Ozgan (231.1).

The Indian had qualified for the final in seventh spot in the preliminary round earlier in the day.

In SH1 class, athletes are able to hold their gun without difficulty and shoot from a standing or sitting position in a wheelchair or chair.

Clubfoot is a deformity in which an infant's feet are turned inward, often so severely that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even upward.

On Friday, Avani Lekhara created history by successfully defending her women's 10m Air Rifle title won in Tokyo, while compatriot Mona Agarwal clinched the bronze.

Manish Narwal then added a silver to India's tally by finishing second in the men's 10m Air Pistol (SH1).

Rubina's talent was identified by the Gun for Glory academy back in 2015 and since then she has not looked back. She qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics also but finished seventh.

She is trained by Subhash Rana, the younger brother of renowned coach Jaspal Rana, who shaped the phenomenal career of Haryana shooter Manu Bhaker, who won two bronze medals in the Paris Olympics.

SHUTTLERS INCH CLOSER TO MEDAL ROUNDS

Nitesh Kumar and Sukant Kadam qualified for the semi-finals of the men's singles SL3 and SL4 categories respectively after recording straight-game wins in their last group matches.

Nitesh, who won a silver medal in the Asian Para Games last year in China, topped Group A after outplaying Mongkhon Bunsun of Thailand 21-13, 21-14, for his third successive win.

Bunsun also qualified for the semi-finals as the second-place finisher from group A.

In SL3 class, which is meant for players with severe lower limb disability competing on half-width court, the top two finishers from each of the two groups qualify for the semi-finals.

In the Group A, Tokyo Paralympics bronze medallist Manoj Sarkar, who had already bowed out of the tournament, beat Yang Jianyuan of China 21-1, 21-11. He earlier lost to Bunsun and Nitesh.

In the men's singles SL4 class, meant for athletes with lower limb impairments and minor balance issues in walking or running, Sukant joined compatriot Suhas Yathiraj in the semi-finals after beating Thailand's Teamarrom Siripong 21-12, 21-12 to top Group B.

This was his second consecutive win in the three-player group. Sukant won bronze in the Asian Para Games in China last year.

"It's my debut tournament. I am so happy to be qualified for the semi-finals. I was well-prepared for today's game. The first match was much tougher than this. And against him (Siripong) I have played plenty of times and I was very confident. So I wanted to go one point at a time and then I played really well," said Sukant after the match.

"The drift and the atmosphere of the hall is very different. I am happy that I was able to adapt well this time," he added.

In the men's SL4 competition, only the toppers from each of the four groups qualify for the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Mandeep Kaur entered the quarter-finals of the women's singles SL 3 category after defeating Australia's Vinot Celine Aurelie.

Mandeep regrouped to win her last Group B match 21-23, 21-10, 21-17 against her Australian opponent. She lost her opening match to Nigeria's Bolaji Mariam.

CYCLISTS AND ROWERS DISAPPOINT

The Indian cyclists and rowers, however, endured disappointing exits from the Paralympics. Arshad Shaik and Jyoti Gaderiya failed to make an impact in their respective track cycling events as they crashed out in the qualification round.

In the men's 1,000m time trial C1-3, Shaik could manage only a disappointing bottom-place (17th) finish with a timing of 1:21.416. On Friday, he had failed to progress in the men's 3,000m pursuit C2 event, managing a bottom-place (ninth) finish in qualifying round.

Jyoti too finished at the bottom (11th place) in the women's 500m time trial C1-3 qualifying event, with a timing of 49.233.

On Thursday, she finished at the bottom in the women's 3000m pursuit C1-3 qualifying event.

Shaik suffered an accident in May 2004 while travelling in an auto and sustained multiple injuries. His left leg had to be amputated above the knee.

Jyoti had also suffered a bike accident in May 2016, resulting to left leg above knee amputation.

The two Indians will also be competing in road cycling events.

Meanwhile, Indian rowers Anita and Narayana Konganapalle crashed out from the mixed PR3 double sculls event.

The pair finished the race with a timing of 7:54.33s, behind Ukraine (7:29.24s) and Great Britain (7:20.53s).

The Indian duo will now compete in Final B, which will decide 7th to 12th spot finishers.

The PR3 category is for para-athletes with residual leg function, allowing them to slide the seat.

Parveen Kumar finishes 8th in F57 javelin throw

India's Parveen Kumar finished eighth in the men's F57 javelin throw event.

The 32-year-old from Haryana had a best effort of 42.12 metres, which came in his fourth visit.

Uzbekistan's Yorkinbek Odilov clinched the gold with an effort of 50.32m, while Turkiye's Muhammet Khalvandi  (49.97m) took home the silver.

Brazilian Cícero Valdiran Lins Nobre bagged the bronze with a 49.46m effort.

F57 is for field athletes whose upper limbs are affected by limb deficiency, have impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement.