Tokyo Paralympics 2020: Schedule for Games, where to watch and timings

With excitement at a fever pitch, thousands of Paralympic athletes worldwide are gearing up to compete in 539 events across 22 sports.

The beginning of the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 is being awaited with great excitement. (Image Credit: Twitter/@Tokyo2020)
By Amruth Kalidas | Aug 18, 2021 | 4 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The Tokyo Olympics 2020 ended with the Indian contingent producing its best-ever performance, winning 7 medals in total. After the Olympians, the Paralympians are gearing up for a superlative show in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 where a total of 54 Indians will be participating across 9 sports. The Paralympics is set to begin on August 24 and will go until September 5. India has prepared its biggest-ever contingent for the Tokyo Games, with javelin thrower Devendra Jhajhariya being one of the biggest medal prospects. The Tokyo Paralympics will also see India making its debut at the Para-Games in badminton.

Thousands of Paralympic athletes worldwide are gearing up to compete in 539 events across 22 sports. Paralympian legends Daniel Dias of Brazil, USA’s Jessica Long and Mckenzie Coan will look to add more swimming medals to their collection. Germany’s Markus Rehm will attempt to defend his long jump titles with Iranian archer Zahra Nemati who is a two-time Paralympic champion returning to take centre stage in Tokyo.

As the para-athletes prepare to leave for Tokyo, here are some of the basic questions about the schedule and where to watch in India.

1. When are the Paralympic Games taking place?

The Paralympics are scheduled to take place from August 24 to September 5 in Tokyo. A total of 539 events will take place in 22 different sports. Shooting returns to the Paralympic programme at Tokyo 2020 alongside two sports that made their debut in Rio: canoe and triathlon. To mark the start of the Paralympic Games, the three Agitos – the symbol of the Paralympic Games will be in full display at the Odaiba Marine Park off the shores of Tokyo Bay.

2. Where to watch the Paralympics in India?

Eurosport India will broadcast the Paralympics in India. The Eurosport feed will also be LIVE on the discovery+ app. The Paralympic Games action is also available on DD Sports in India. The entirety of the Paralympics will be broadcast on Channel 4 and More 4 in the UK, with the latter channel dedicated to team sports. Here is complete information over the broadcast of the event across nations.

3. How many Indian athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics?

A total of 54 athletes will be representing India at the Paralympics, making it the largest-ever contingent to feature in the Para Games in national history. An estimated 4,350 athletes from 160 countries will take part in 539 events across 22 sports in 21 venues in the Japanese capital.

4. What are the disciplines in which India is vying for a medal?

Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajhariya is one of the biggest medal prospects. Ekta Bhyan, a 36-year-old club thrower, Varun Singh Bhati, a high jumper who competes in the T63 category, are among the others. Mariyappan Thangavelu, who clinched the gold medal in the men’s T42 high jump in Rio 2016, will also be one to watch out for. Unsurprisingly, a lot of hopes will be pinned on Mariyappan when he takes to the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. Pramod Bhagat will also be one of the biggest hopes for India to win its first-ever Paralympics medal in badminton.

While some of the legendary Paralympians globally have been discussed previously, there are a few emerging talents who will be expected to make their presence felt. The likes of Kiara Rodriguez is hunting Ecuador’s first gold medal in T47 long jump as she makes her Paralympic debut. 19-year-old Ambra Sabatini (who shattered the 100m T63 world record in February) will make her bow in Tokyo.

5. What is the schedule for Indian events in Tokyo Paralympics?

The Paralympics will begin on August 24 and will go until September 5. Indians began their campaign on Wednesday, with paddler Sonal Patel losing to Li Qian in the women’s singles Class 3 category. The last event will be Javelin throw on September 4th to wrap up the Indian participation. Here is the complete schedule for the Tokyo Paralympics.

6. Is there a way to Live Stream the games?

Eurosport is the official broadcasting partner for Tokyo Paralympics in India. The entire event will be available for live-streaming on the Discovery+ OTT platform. All coverage will be available online via the All4 app. Here is complete information over websites that provide live streaming services for the event across nations.

7. Who will be the Flag bearer for India at the opening ceremony?

The Indian team will be led by Rio gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu at the opening ceremony. The Tamil Nadu resident will be competing in the high jump T63 event at the Paralympics. He will be hoping to add another gold to his tally and cement his place as one of the best para-athletes in India.

8. What time will the opening ceremony be held in India?

Tokyo is three and a half hours ahead of India. If the games are held at 20:00 Tokyo time, then it will be 16:30 PM IST. It is set to be the largest and most-watched ceremony of the year, with billions of people expected to tune in to celebrate the Games.