Paris: Kapil Parmar’s journey from running a tea stall to winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics is nothing short of extraordinary. In a historic moment for Indian sports, Parmar became the first Indian judoka to win a Paralympic medal, securing bronze in the men’s -60kg J1 class.

The 24-year-old judoka from Shivor village, Madhya Pradesh, delivered an exceptional performance at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, defeating Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira with a decisive 10-0 victory. Parmar’s winning throw, an ippon, showcased his skill and determination in a category designed for athletes with vision impairment.

After suffering a severe electric shock from an open wire as a child, which affected his vision, Parmar faced numerous challenges. Financial difficulties at one point forced him to run a tea stall to support his training and dreams. Despite these hardships, Parmar’s commitment to judo never faltered.

Before this win, Parmar demonstrated his prowess by defeating Venezuela’s Marcos Dennis Blanco, a World Championships bronze medallist, with another 10-0 score to advance to semi-finals. Although he narrowly missed the final, losing 10-0 to Iran’s Seyed Meysam Banitaba Khorram Abadi, Parmar’s performance throughout the tourney was exceptional.

This bronze medal is India’s 25th medal at Paris Paralympics, marking the country’s most successful Paralympic campaign to date, with three days still remaining in the Games.

Kapil Parmar’s triumph is a powerful reminder of the impact of perseverance and dedication. His achievement not only adds to India’s Paralympic glory but also serves as an inspiration  to aspiring athletes across   the nation.

India now stands at 16th position with 25 medals (5 Gold, 9 Silver and 11 Bronze).