The headline, slightly stuffily, read “heartiest congratulations”. Underneath, an effusive Narendra Modi posted congratulations to his country’s para-athletics team. “A historic performance!” the Indian prime minister wrote on social media, celebrating a record 22-medal haul for his country at the World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, which ended on Sunday. “I am proud of each and every member and wish them the very best for their future endeavours,” he said. “Hosting the tournament in Delhi has also been an honour for India.”
This was India’s first time staging the biggest track-and-field event in disability sport, outside the Paralympic Games, and they made a suitable noise about it. After a last-minute decision that confirmed Delhi as host city last December, the hope was that the championships might expand awareness of para-sport in India and, in the process, perhaps help to wake a sleeping giant. With India 10th in the medal table and stars such as the visually impaired sprinter Simran Sharma breaking out into the public consciousness, it could be argued that mission has been accomplished.
