India's participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympics ended with Pooja Ojha's elimination in the Women's Kayak Single 200m (KL1) sprint canoeing event in athletics, ending their historic run with 29 medals. The Indian Paralympic contingent played phenomenally during the Summer Olympics 2024 grabbing seven gold, nine silver, and thirteen bronze medals in respective sports putting them 18th on the overall medals tally.
Pooja Ojha is an Indian para-canoeist who represented India in international competitions, particularly in the KL1 category for athletes with physical impairments affecting their legs and trunks. The players use their arms and shoulders to paddle, as they have minimal or no trunk function. Pooja's participation in the Paralympics showcased her perseverance and commitment to para-sports, overcoming physical challenges and promoting the growing participation of Indian athletes in less traditional sports, showcasing diversity and pushing capabilities. Pooja, the final Indian athlete, finished her semifinal 1 at 1:17:03, trailing Eleonora de Paolis by 7.03 seconds.
Navdeep Singh's gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category was a highlight of India's performance at the Games. India's para-canoeing campaign saw Prachi Yadav finish eighth in the women's VL2 200m, while Yash Kumar, the sole male canoe sprinter, finished fifth in the KL1 200m semi-final.
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