Paralympians make giant strides but await India Inc's leap of faith

India's Paralympians will look back at their campaign in Paris with pride, as they glittered on the big stage with a record-smashing 29 medals.

- ANUSHKA BHARDWAJ

In doing so, they bettered their performance at the Tokyo Games three years ago, when they bagged an impressive haul of 19 medals.

While the upswing in the performance of these para-athletes has brought them much-needed recognition, the brand ecosystem and corporate bigwigs are yet to loosen their purse strings.

"The perspective has changed. From facilities to funding, things are now getting better," says Rubina Francis, who grabbed bronze in pistol shooting.

"We are Olympic winners, feeling like a celebrity," Francis tells Business Standard, sporting a beatific smile.

Shooter and Paralympic medallist Mona Agarwal, a beneficiary of the para Khelo India scheme, the flagship government programme aimed at unearthing Olympic superstars, talks about the impetus needed at the grassroots level.

"I am a medallist now. I know that I will have enough support. But what about the ones who are starting their journey? Brands or government, they should come early," Agarwal says, adding that if she received this push early in life, it would have been more helpful.

"Nevertheless, I had no support, and any scheme, Khelo India in my case, can help a lot," Agarwal adds. "A monthly support of ₹10,000 was, at least, enough to pay the salary of my escort," she adds.

Although para-athletes highlight the government's push and the rise of nongovernment organisations like Olympic Gold Quest and GoSports, they agree that the brand ecosystem is yet to unlock a plethora of opportunities.