India has announced its largest-ever contingent of 111 members for the upcoming Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled from November 15 to December 26.
The team includes 73 athletes and 38 coaches, and support staff.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) said the Union Sports Ministry has cleared the contingent on a no-cost-to-government basis.
India will compete in 11 disciplines: athletics, badminton, golf, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, and tennis.
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD) organises the Deaflympics and operates under recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
ICSD, founded in 1924, functions independently and is not associated with the International Paralympic Committee.
The Games are the world’s second-oldest multi-sport event after the Olympics.
The first Deaflympics, called the International Silent Games, took place in Paris in 1924.
ICSD has hosted 24 Summer Deaflympics. It has hosted 18 Winter Deaflympics, except during World War II.
Organisers hold the Deaflympics every four years, one year after the Olympics.
India made its debut in 1965 at the Washington Games with seven male athletes and five officials. Three female athletes joined the team for the first time in 1985.
India sent 65 athletes to the last Deaflympics held in Brazil in 2022. The team won 16 medals – eight gold, one silver, and seven bronze-and ranked ninth among 77 nations.
Notable performances came from Jerlin Jayaratchagan, who won three golds in badminton, and Dhanush Srikanth, who clinched two golds and set a world record in the 10m air rifle event with a score of 247.5.
Prithvi Sekhar won three medals in tennis. Wrestler Virender Singh earned his fifth consecutive Deaflympics medal. Golfer Diksha Dagar added a silver to the tally.
Overall, India has won 26 gold, 9 silver, and 17 bronze medals since 1965. The record-breaking 2025 contingent reflects India’s growing focus on inclusivity and sporting excellence on the global stage.
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