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2016 Rio Paralympics: The Indian challenge

AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE

Nineteen Indians have qualified for the Paralympics that start in Rio de Janeiro on September 7. ESPN gives you the lowdown on these Indians, who will be taking part in archery, athletics, powerlifting, shooting and swimming.

ARCHERY:

Pooja (women's individual recurve): Pooja, India's sole representative in archery, will compete in the women's recurve individual event. The 25-year-old from Rohtak has polio. She is one of only three female Indian athletes who have qualified for the Paralympics this year. She made it by finishing fifth at the World Ranking Archery tournament in Czech Republic this year.

Date: September 10, 5.30pm*

ATHLETICS:

Ankur Dhama (1500m T-11): Dhama, who trains at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi, is visually impaired. He won two silver medals and a bronze at the 2014 Para Asian Games. Dhama represented India at the Thailand football championship in Bangkok and scored the first goal for India in an international tournament for the blind. He is studying for a honours degree in history at Delhi's St. Stephen's College.

Date: September 11, 8.53pm

Mariyappan Thangavelu, Varun Singh Bhati and Sharad Kumar (high jump T-42): Thangavelu qualified for the Paralympics after attaining the 'A' qualification mark at the IPC Grand Prix in Tunisia this year. His right leg had had to amputated after a bus ran over it at when he was five.

The 20-year-old Bhati, who is from Greater Noida and trains at the Sports Authority of India centre in Bangalore, has polio in one leg. He finished fifth at the 2014 Para Asian Games and 2015 Para World Championships in Doha, Qatar. He had also attained the 'A' qualification mark for the London Paralympics in 2012.

Sharad, who won gold at the 2014 Para Asian Games, was inspired to become a high jumper by his brother. A positive doping test in 2012 - for stanozolol - had led to him being banned and prevented him from competing in London. The 24-year-old also participated at the 2010 Asian Para Games.

Date: September 10, 2.51am

Rampal Chahar (high jump T-47): Chahar had to undergo partial amputation in his right arm after it got caught in a chopping machine. He was four at the time. Chahar, who is the current national record holder, won gold at the IPC Grand Prix in Tunisia this year. He took up sports after getting inspired by para-athlete Amit Kumar Saroha.

Date: September 17, 2.58am

Devendra Jhajharia, Sundar Singh Gurjar and Rinku (javelin throw F-46): Jhajharia is one of only three Indians to win gold in an individual event at the Olympics or Paralympics. He won gold at the Athens Paralympics in 2004. His category was not a part of the Paralympics in 2008 and 2012. His left arm had to be amputated after he accidentally touched a 11,000 volt live cable at the age of eight. He is coached by Satyapal Singh and is a Padma Shri awardee. A former world record holder in the event, he won silver at the 2015 World Championships.

Gurjar is the current world record holder in the men's javelin throw. He broke Jhajharia's record earlier this year. The 20-year-old lost an arm in an accident in 2015. He won the best sportsman award at the National Championships this year.

The 17-year-old Rinku is the youngest member of the Indian contingent. He lost his left arm in an accident involving a fan blade. He attained the 'A' qualification mark at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland this year.

Date: September 14, 2.33am

Ranbir Narender and Sandeep (javelin throw F-42/44): Narender represented India as a runner at the 2010 Asian Games but a chronic back injury forced him to take up the javelin throw. He had finished sixth in the previous Paralympics and won silver at the 2014 Para Asian Games. He suffers from a deformity in his left leg.

The 20-year-old Sandeep will be competing in his maiden Olympics. His career best throw of 68.52m came at Patiala last year.

Date: September 10, 2.15am

Virender Dhankar (javelin throw F-57 and shot put F-57): Dhankar is the only athlete who'll be representing India in two events at the Olympics. The 32-year-old is a four-time national champion. His right leg was amputated after an accident in 2004.

Dates: September 13, 2.04 am (javelin throw) and 17 September, 6.33pm (shot put)

Amit Kumar Saroha, Dharambir (club throw F-51): The club throw is one of four throwing events at the Summer Paralympics. The club is made of wood and has a metal base. It was introduced at the 1960 Paralympics.

Saroha, who is an Arjuna awardee, was a hockey player before an accident at the age of 22 left him a quadriplegic. He won silver in club throw at the World Championships last year. The 30-year-old will be appearing in his second Olympics. He won gold in club throw at the 2014 Para Asian Games.

Dharambir, who is paralysed below the waist, took up club throw in 2014 under the guidance of Saroha. He secured the 'A' qualification mark at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai this year.

Date: September 16, 6.33pm

Deepa Malik (shot put F-53): The 45-year-old Deepa was paralysed from chest down after an accident 12 years ago. She had had to get 183 stitches between her shoulder blades after the accident. An Asian record holder in the javelin throw, she was given the Arjuna award in 2012. She won silver in the shot put and discus throw at the 2011 World Championship in Christchurch.

Date: September 12, 6.33pm

Karamjyoti Dalal (discus throw F-55): Dalal was an aspiring kabaddi player before she had an accident. She has paralysis and finished fourth at the World Championships in 2015.

Date: September 17, 6.4pm

POWERLIFTING

Farman Basha (men's 49kg): Basha, who hails from Bangalore, represented India at the London Paralympics and won a silver medal at the Para Asian Games in 2010. He has polio. Basha was awarded the Arjuna award in 2008.

Date: September 8, 9.30pm

SHOOTING

Naresh Sharma (men's R7-50m rifle 3 positions - SH1): The veteran shooter will be participating in his fifth Paralympics. He won a quota by finishing 12th at the shooting World Cup in the US last year. Sharma had narrowly missed out on a medal at the Beijing Games, where he finished fifth.

Date: September 12, 6pm

SWIMMING

Suyash Jadhav (men's 50m butterfly - S7): Jadhav, who hails from Solapur in Maharashtra, trains in Bangalore and is a double amputee. He had got an electric shock at a construction site while he was in Class 6. He won a gold and bronze at the 2015 IWAS World Games in Sochi. He attained the 'A' qualifying mark last year.

Dates: September 10, 6.33pm

*All times are in IST.