Tokyo, Nov 24 – Pranjali Prashant Dhumal’s gold medal in the women’s 25‑meter pistol on Monday marked the third podium finish for India at this Deaflympics. Earlier she had captured the mixed‑pistol title with Abhinav Deshwal and added a silver in the women’s air pistol. Ukraine’s Mosina Halyna took silver in the 25‑m event and Korea’s Jeon Jiwon earned bronze. Anuya Prasad, the air‑pistol champion, finished fourth in the pistol final.
Pranjali advanced to the final by posting a brand‑new world and Deaflympic qualification record of 573 out of 600 in the qualification round. The day before, Deshwal had added a gold in the 25‑m pistol, also setting a record for the qualifying score.
With this win, India has surpassed its earlier best haul of 16 medals at the 2021 Deaflympics in Brazil (held in 2022), where the country finished with 8 golds, 1 silver and 7 bronze. Two days of competition remain, giving the team a chance to rack up more medals.
In other sports, Loma Swain secured India’s first Deaflympic karate medal, taking bronze in the women’s kumite 50‑kg division.
India sent its largest ever delegation to the Games, comprising 111 people, including 73 competitors and 38 coaches. The Deaflympics are organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD), which has been independent since 1924 and is recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The competition is the world’s second‑oldest multisport event.
India first competed in the Deaflympics in 1965 with seven men and five officials. Women joined the team for the first time in 1985. At the most recent Games in Caxias do Sul, Brazil (May 2022), 39 men and 26 women represented the country, earning 16 medals (8 gold, 1 silver, 7 bronze) to finish ninth out of 77 nations.
Across all Deaflympics, India has amassed 26 golds, 9 silvers and 17 bronzes. At the 2022 Games in Brazil, 65 athletes competed across 11 sports.
–LatestNewsX
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