Indian judoka Kapil Parmar made history on Thursday by winning India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in judo at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Parmar claimed a bronze medal after defeating Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira in 33 seconds with a stunning Ippon (10-0 score) in the men’s -60kg J1 category.
25th Medal for India
Kapil’s achievement added another milestone for India, bringing the country’s total medal count to 25, which includes 5 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
First Paralympic medal for Kapil
Kapil has now won his first Paralympic medal for India. Previously, he won gold at the Grand Prix and Commonwealth Championships. In the 2023 World Games, he achieved a bronze medal, and at the recent Asian Para Games, he secured a silver medal.
A tough semifinal defeat
In the semifinals, the 24-year-old Parmar faced a tough challenge from Iran’s S. Banitaba Khorram Abadi in the J1 class, a category for athletes with no or very low visual acuity. Despite his best efforts, Parmar lost 0-10 in the match. Athletes in this category wear red circles to signal their need for assistance before, during, and after the contest.