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Paralympic legend Jhajharia also felt ace para-shuttler Pramod Bhagat’s controversial exclusion from the Paris Games will not affect the Indian contingent’s morale. read more
 "Indian Paralympic chief Devendra Jhajharia confident of nation winning 25 medals in Paris")
File image of double Paralympic gold medal-winning javelin thrower and current president of the Paralympic Committee of India Devendra Jhajharia. PTI
Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) president Devendra Jhajharia is confident of the nation winning at least 25 medals in the upcoming Paralympics in Paris and that the shadow of the Pramod Bhagat controversy will not linger on the Indian contingent.
India have assembled their biggest-ever contingent for the Paralympics, sending a team comprising 84 para-athletes across 12 disciplines for the Paris Games that take place between 28 August and 8 September.
The team, however, doesn’t comprise Tokyo 2020 gold medal-winning shuttler Pramod Bhagat, who was handed an 18-month suspension for breaching BWF’s anti-doping whereabouts clause.
“Look, there is no doubt that Pramod Bhagat is our star athlete but the target of 25 medals that we have set is from our current contingent of 84 players. Pramod Bhagat is not included in this,” the two-time Paralympics gold medal-winning javelin thrower Jhajharia told PTI Bhasha.
“Pramod being a gold medal winner of the last Games not being in the Indian team is extremely sad and unfortunate, but we cannot do anything.”
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Asked about his confidence about target of 25 medals, he said, “I have kept this target after closely monitoring our players.”
“You may think I am exaggerating. But I have seen the practice sessions of players. We have worked hard on their physical fitness and mental strength.”
Badminton’s world governing body (BWF) had on Tuesday announced that Bhagat has been “suspended for a period of 18 months and will miss” the Paris Paralympics.
“On 1 March 2024, the Court of Arbitration of Sport Anti-Doping Division found Bhagat in breach of the BWF anti-doping regulations for committing three whereabouts failures within 12 months.”
The five-time para world champion Bhagat had appealed this decision to the CAS Appeals Division but it was rejected last month.
Jhajharia further said the number of players this time is much more than the previous games and they are competing in more sports.
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India were ranked 24th in the Tokyo Paralympics table with 19 medals which included five gold.
“I have set a target of 25 medals and to be in the top 20 in the medal table, but we will win more medals than this," said the 43-year-old former javelin thrower.
“We had 56 players in the Tokyo Paralympics, this time 84 players will compete. For the first time, our players will participate in Blind Judo, Para Sailing and Para Cycling.”
Jhajharia is expecting the highest medal haul from the athletics team and is hoping new stars to emerge from these games.
“Each and every player of our contingent is a medal prospect. We have 38 track and field athletes and I am expecting the most medals from them.
“Our contingent has 47 new players, despite their first Paralympics games they are very confident and mentally strong about their performance,” he concluded.
With PTI inputs
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English (US) ·