Indian team will compete at the upcoming Paralympics in Paris. 84 persons were the total finalists for these events they took part in, which included 12 games. Despite this, the Indian Paralympic Committee Chairman Bhagat Devendra Jajharia is optimistic and has predicted that his team will bring home at least 25 medals from France.
Recently, Bhagat, a Tokyo Paralympic badminton gold medalist was sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The badminton player was suspended for eighteen months for breaching the whereabouts clause of Badminton World Federation’s anti-doping rules.
Nevertheless, Jhajaria is self-assured that this impediment will not have any lasting impact on their Paralympic performance and morale of Indian team.
“Pramod Bhagat is our star athlete without any doubt but we do not plan to get these 25 medals from him because he’s one amongst our current lot of only 84 players Pramod Bhagat Special Not Included,” said two time javelin throw champion Jhajharia through “PTI Bhasha.”
“Therefore it’s really sad and unfortunate that Prabmod was a gold medalist in the last Olympics. But there is nothing we can do about it since he won’t be part of the Indian team.”
Asked whether he believed in hitting the target of 25 medals. He replied: “I remain with such a goal after watching over our athletes personally.”
“I could be exaggerating to you but I have seen my players training. And we’ve worked hard on their physical and mental fitness as well.”
India finished in position twenty four during Tokyo Paralympics with a total of nineteen medals consisting five gold ones.
“My aim was to win 25 medals and finish among top twenty on medal table. But there would definitely be more than that,” said this former 43-year-old javelin thrower.
“Here we have a total of eighty four athletes, while in Tokyo Paralympics there were fifty six. For the first time our sports people are among those engaged in blind judo, para sailing and para cycling.”
Jajjaria confirmed that he looks forward to winning the highest number of medals in track and field events.
“I think every one of our athletes has a chance to win a medal. We have thirty eight athletics players and it is my hope that they win most medals.
“Our team has forty seven new members, who are participating at the Paralympic Games for the very first time. But show strong mental toughness on their performance,” he concluded.
