Kapil Parmar Clinches India’s First Ever Paralympic Medal in Judo with Bronze Victory

Paris: Kapil Parmar made history for India at the Paralympics by winning the country’s first-ever medal in judo, securing a bronze in the men’s 60kg (J1) category. Parmar dominated his Brazilian opponent, Elielton de Oliveira, in the bronze medal match, securing a 10-0 victory at the Champs-de-Mars Arena on Thursday.

Parmar’s exceptional performance saw him overpower Oliveira from start to finish, earning him a well-deserved place on the podium. Earlier in the semifinals, Parmar faced a tough challenge against Iran’s S. Banitaba Khorram Abadi, losing 0-10, which sent him into the bronze medal contest.

The J1 class in para judo is designed for athletes with no or very low visual acuity. Competitors in this category wear red circles, indicating they may need guided assistance throughout the match.

Parmar’s road to the bronze began with a commanding 10-0 victory over Venezuela’s Marco Dennis Blanco in the quarterfinals. Despite the victories, he received a yellow card in both the quarterfinal and bronze medal match for minor rule violations, such as passivity or potentially dangerous techniques.

Having already won a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the same category, Parmar’s bronze in Paris adds another historic achievement to his growing list of accolades, marking a monumental moment for Indian judo on the global stage.