Indian judoka Kapil Parmar created history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by winning India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in judo. Competing in the men’s -60kg J1 category, he secured a bronze medal after defeating Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira in just 33 seconds with an impressive Ippon. This victory brought India’s total medal count at the Paralympics to 25, including 5 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
Though Parmar, 24, lost 0-10 in the semifinals to Iran’s S. Banitaba Khorram Abadi, he made a remarkable comeback in the bronze medal match. The J1 class is for athletes with limited to no vision, where competitors are provided guided assistance during the match.
Kapil Parmar Wins Paralympic Judo Medal
World No.1 Kapil Parmar made history on September 5, becoming the first Indian to win a para-judo medal at the Paralympic Games. Competing in the men’s 60kg category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Kapil secured a bronze medal by defeating Brazil’s Elielton Oliveira 10-0 with an impressive Ippon, the highest score in judo.
The 24-year-old judoka from Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, delivered a dominant performance in the bronze medal match at Champ-de-Mars Arena. His win contributed to India’s record medal tally of 25 at the 17th edition of the Paralympic Games, which includes five golds. India is currently ranked 13th in the medal table, with more medal events scheduled for later that day.
Earlier in the competition, Kapil defeated Venezuela’s Marco Dennis Blanco 10-0 in the quarterfinals but lost 0-10 to Iran’s Banitaba Khorram Abadi in the semifinals. He had previously won a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games in the same category.
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Kapil Parmar’s Journey
Kapil Parmar, a silver medalist at the 2022 Asian Games, secured a dominant 10-0 win against Venezuela’s Marco Dennis Blanco in the quarterfinals. Despite his impressive performance, he received a yellow card in both of today’s matches.
Kapil, the youngest of five siblings, hails from Shivor, a village in Madhya Pradesh. His father drives a taxi, and his sister manages a primary school. In his childhood, Kapil survived a life-threatening electric shock when he accidentally touched a water pump while playing, leaving him in a coma.
More About Kapil Parmar
Kapil Parmar hails from a small village called Shivor in Madhya Pradesh. He is the youngest among four brothers and a sister. His middle brother, who is a judo practitioner, often trains with him. Kapil’s father works as a taxi driver, and his sister runs a primary school.
During his childhood, Kapil experienced a life-changing accident. While playing in the village fields, he accidentally touched a water pump and suffered a severe electric shock. A villager found him unconscious and rushed him to a hospital, where he was in a coma for six months in Bhopal. Despite this hardship, his passion for judo, a sport he enjoyed in school, remained strong.
After his recovery, doctors advised Kapil to gain weight. It was during this time that he was introduced to blind judo, with the support of his mentors and coaches, Bhagwan Das and Manoj Sir, who encouraged him to compete in the sport.
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Kapil Parmar Wins Paralympic Judo Medal FAQs
Q.1. Who is Kapil Parmar?
Ans. Kapil Parmar is an Indian judoka who won India’s first Paralympic medal in judo at the Paris 2024 Games, securing bronze in the men’s -60kg J1 category.
Q.2. What achievement did Kapil Parmar accomplish at the Paris 2024 Paralympics?
Ans. Kapil Parmar won the bronze medal in the men’s -60kg J1 category, making history as India’s first Paralympic medalist in judo.
Q.3. What was Kapil Parmar’s performance in the semifinal match?
Ans. Kapil Parmar lost 0-10 to Iran’s S. Banitaba Khorram Abadi in the semifinals but came back to win bronze.
Q.4. How did Kapil Parmar secure his bronze medal?
Ans. Kapil Parmar defeated Brazil’s Elielton de Oliveira in just 33 seconds with an Ippon to win the bronze medal.
Q.5. What is the J1 category in judo?
Ans. The J1 category is for athletes with limited to no vision, where competitors receive guided assistance during matches.
