India’s Paris Paralympics contingent to be accompanied by 95 officials for special needs
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India is sending an 84-member contingent to the Paris Paralympics, set to begin on August 28, accompanied by 95 officials to ensure the athletes' special needs are met.
The total size of the Indian team, including athletes and officials, will be 179 members.
The officials' group includes 77 team officials, nine medical personnel, and nine contingent officials. Many athletes will have their personal coaches and escorts traveling with them to provide necessary support. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports stated that these personal coaches would also assist other athletes as needed, under the guidance of the Chef de Mission or team head coach.
India's participation in the Paris Paralympics marks its largest contingent to date, with athletes competing in 12 different sports. This is a significant increase from the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, where India had 54 participants across nine sports.
Key athletes like javelin thrower Sumit Antil and shooter Avani Lekhara, who are aiming to defend their gold medals from the Tokyo Games, will be among those with personal coaches.
A team official explained that para-athletes typically require more support staff, including personal coaches and escorts, compared to able-bodied athletes, making the large number of accompanying officials necessary. The para-athletics team, the largest with 38 competitors, has the most personal coaches and escorts.
All members of the contingent, except for the Chef de Mission and the parabadminton team manager, will receive a daily out-of-pocket allowance of USD 50 for the duration of their stay, which includes acclimatization, training periods, and travel time. Some officials will be accommodated outside the Games Village.
Devendra Jhajharia, President of the Paralympic Committee of India, departed for Paris on Sunday with a large contingent, including Chef de Mission Satya Prakash Sangwan. Jhajharia mentioned that he would stay outside the Games Village to oversee all the athletes, especially since some will be competing in locations outside Paris.
Jhajharia expressed optimism about India's performance at the Paris Paralympics, setting a goal of winning more than 25 medals, including double-digit golds. This follows India's best-ever performance at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, where the country secured 19 medals - five gold, eight silver, and six bronze.