View source for India at the 1972 Summer Paralympics

{{Infobox country at games
| NPC = IND
| NPCname = [[Paralympic Committee of India]]
| games = Summer Paralympics
| year = 1972
| flagcaption = 
| oldcode = 
| start_date = {{start date|1972|8|2}}
| end_date   = {{end date|1972|8|11}}
| website = {{url|www.paralympicindia.org.in|Paralympic India}}
| location = [[Heidelberg]]
| competitors = 10
| sports = 5
| flagbearer = 
| rank = 25
| gold = 1
| silver = 0
| bronze = 0
| officials = 
| appearances = auto
| app_begin_year = 
| app_end_year = 
| summerappearances = 
| winterappearances = 
| seealso = 
}}
India competed at the [[1972 Summer Paralympics]] held in [[Heidelberg]] from 2 to 11 August 1972. The nation made its official debut at the last Paralympic Games in [[1968 Summer Paralympics|1968]]. This was India's second consecutive appearance at the Summer Games for the disabled. India sent a contingent consisting of ten athletes for the Games and won a single gold medal.

== Background ==
The ninth International Stoke Mandville Games was later designated as the first [[Paralympics]] in [[1960 Paralympic Games|1960]] and the [[International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation]] organized the [[1972 Summer Paralympics|1972 Games]].<ref name="IPC">{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/ipc/history|title=History of IPC|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130085921/https://www.paralympic.org/ipc/history|url-status=live}}</ref> India made its [[India at the 1968 Summer Paralympics|Paralympics debut]] in the previous Games in [[1968 Paralympics|1968]].<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/india-at-the-paralympics-a-brief-history|title=India at the Paralympics: A brief history|date=19 December 2020|access-date=1 June 2024|work=[[Olympics.com]]|archive-date=22 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522133210/https://olympics.com/en/news/india-at-the-paralympics-a-brief-history|url-status=live}}</ref> India sent ten competitors including seven males and three females.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/reports.html?type=participation&games=1972PG&sport=all|title=Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=27 May 2011|year=1972|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213174044/https://www.paralympic.org/results/historical?games=1972PG&sport=all&type=participation|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Medalist ==
India won its first ever Paralympic medal when [[Murlikant Petkar]] won the gold medal in the men's 50 meter [[freestyle swimming|freestyle]] event.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/how-a-war-hero-won-indias-first-paralympics-gold-in-1968-in-mumbai/articleshow/85727717.cms|title=How a war hero won India's first Paralympics gold in 1972|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=29 August 2021|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=4 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904073220/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/how-a-war-hero-won-indias-first-paralympics-gold-in-1972-in-mumbai/articleshow/85727717.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=12 August 2024|title=Murlikant Petkar: From War Hero to India’s First Paralympic Champion|url=https://crossbarriers.org/murlikant-petkar/|url-status=live|access-date=13 August 2024|work=Cross Barriers|archive-date=4 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240904073224/https://crossbarriers.org/murlikant-petkar/}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%"
|-
! Medal !! Name !! Sport !! Event 
|-
| [[File:Gold medal Paralympics.svg|16px]] Gold || [[Murlikant Petkar]] || [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Swimming]] || [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's 50 m freestyle 3]]
|}

== Competitors ==
The Indian contingent for the Games consisted of ten athletes who competed across five sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/participants|title=Participants in the 1972 Paralympics|access-date=31 August 2024|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|archive-date=30 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730093737/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/participants|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Sport
!Men
!Women
!Total
|-
|align=left|[[Image:Archery pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Archery at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Archery]]
| 0 || 1 || 1
|-
|align=left|[[Image:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Athletics]]
| 6 || 2 || 8
|-
|align=left|[[Image:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Swimming]]
| 1 || 0 || 1
|-
|align=left|[[Image:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Table tennis at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Table tennis]]
| 2 || 0 || 2
|-
|align=left|[[Image:Powerlifting pictogram.svg|20px]] [[Weightlifting at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Weightlifting]]
| 1 || 0 || 1
|-
! Total !! 7{{efn|name=Multiple|{{bulletlist|Petkar participated in athletics and swimming.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/petkar|title=Petkar|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=31 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531002654/https://www.paralympic.org/petkar|url-status=live}}</ref>|Makandi participated in athletics and weightlifting.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/makandi|title=Makandi|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135840/https://www.paralympic.org/makandi|url-status=live}}</ref>|Patel participated in athletics and archery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/patel|title=Patel|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135840/https://www.paralympic.org/patel|url-status=live}}</ref>}}}} !! 3 !! 10{{efn|name=Multiple}}
|}

== Archery ==
{{main|Archery at the 1972 Summer Paralympics}}
{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
|-
!Athlete
!Event
!Score
!Rank
|-
| [[Patel (athlete)|Patel]]
| [[Archery at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's St. Nicholas round paraplegic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/archery/womens-st-nicholas-round-paraplegic|title=Results/Archery/Women's St. Nicholas round paraplegic|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=9 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809115249/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/archery/womens-st-nicholas-round-paraplegic|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|31
| style="text-align:center;"|8
|}

== Athletics ==
{{main|Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics}}
;Track
{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
|-
!rowspan="2" |Athlete
!rowspan="2" |Event
!colspan="2" |Heat
!colspan="2" |Final
|-
!Result
!Rank
!Result
!Rank
|-
|[[Chandrashekhar (athlete)|Chandrashekhar]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's 100 m 2]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-100-m-2|title=Results/Athletics/Men's 100 m 2|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=21 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221105945/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-100-m-2|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|1:28.40
| style="text-align:center;"|22
| colspan="2" {{n/a|Did not advance}}
|-
|[[Magan Gina]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's 100 m 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-100-m-3|title=Results/Athletics/Men's 100 m 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=1 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201174307/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-100-m-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|48.80
| style="text-align:center;"|41
| colspan="2" {{n/a|Did not advance}}
|-
|[[Murlikant Petkar]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's slalom 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-slalom-3|title=Results/Athletics/Men's slalom 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=28 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228155954/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-slalom-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| colspan="2" {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1:20.10
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|}

;Field
{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
|-
!Athlete
!Event
!Result
!Points
!Rank
|-
| [[Diwan (athlete)|Diwan]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's shot put 2]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-2|title=Results/Athletics/Men's shot put 2|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=1 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201164102/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-2|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|2.72
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|24
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Makandi]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's shot put 4]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-4|title=Results/Athletics/Men's shot put 4|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915140021/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-4|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|4.25
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|36
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's precision javelin open]]<ref name="PJ">{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-precision-javelin-open|title=Results/Athletics/Men's precision javelin open|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135955/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-precision-javelin-open|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|68
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[Murlikant Petkar]]
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|26
| style="text-align:center;"|55
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's javelin 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-javelin-3|title=Results/Athletics/Men's javelin 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=24 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924081128/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-javelin-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|15.07
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|15
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's shot put 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-3|title=Results/Athletics/Men's shot put 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135903/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|6.20
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|12
|-
| rowspan="3"|[[Patel (athlete)|Patel]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's precision javelin open]]<ref name="WPJ"/>
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|12
| style="text-align:center;"|51
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's javelin 3]]<ref name="WJ3"/>
| style="text-align:center;"|6.08
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|30
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's shot put 3]]<ref name="WS3" />
| style="text-align:center;"|2.88
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|30
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[Poudwal]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's javelin 5]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-javelin-5|title=Results/Athletics/Men's javelin 5|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=29 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829212709/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-javelin-5|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|8.10
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's shot put 5]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-5|title=Results/Athletics/Men's shot put 5|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=29 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240829221224/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/mens-shot-put-5|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3.95
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|28
|-
| rowspan="4"|[[Shehrnaz Kermani]]
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's precision javelin open]]<ref name="WPJ">{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-precision-javelin-open|title=Results/Athletics/Women's precision javelin open|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135947/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-precision-javelin-open|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|27
| style="text-align:center;"|41
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's discus throw 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-discus-throw-3|title=Results/Athletics/Women's discus throw 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135954/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-discus-throw-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7.43
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|27
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's javelin 3]]<ref name="WJ3">{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-javelin-3|title=Results/Athletics/Women's javelin 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=24 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224115601/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-javelin-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|7.05
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|26
|-
| [[Athletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Women's shot put 3]]<ref name="WS3">{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-shot-put-3|title=Results/Athletics/Women's shot put 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208234522/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/athletics/womens-shot-put-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|3.31
| {{n/a}}
| style="text-align:center;"|27
|}

== Swimming ==
{{main|Swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics}}

[[Murlikant Petkar]] became the first Indian Paralympic medalist when he won a gold medal in swimming. Hailing from [[Maharashtra]], he was part of the [[Indian Army]]. He was injured in the [[1965 India-Pakistan War]] when he was hit by multiple bullets. He started swimming as an exercise to improve mobility in the injured leg muscles. He set a new World Record when he won the gold medal in the freestyle 3 event. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], India's third highest civilian honor for his achievement.<ref>{{cite web|last=Shrikant |first=B |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/OtherSports/Forgotten-hero-India-s-first-Paralympic-gold-medallist/Article1-917904.aspx |title=Forgotten hero: India’s first Paralympic gold medallist|access-date=1 August 2013|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=22 August 2012|archive-date=25 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925130445/http://www.hindustantimes.com/sports-news/OtherSports/Forgotten-hero-India-s-first-Paralympic-gold-medallist/Article1-917904.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/feature/murlikant-petkar-first-one-rise-amongst-billion|title=Murlikant Petkar – The first one to rise amongst a billion|date=7 August 2021|access-date=1 June 2024|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|archive-date=23 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623113743/https://www.paralympic.org/feature/murlikant-petkar-first-one-rise-amongst-billion|url-status=live}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Athlete
!rowspan="2"|Event
!colspan="2"|Heat
!colspan="2"|Final
|-
!Result
!Rank
!Result
!Rank
|-
|[[Murlikant Petkar]]
|[[Swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's 50 m freestyle 3]]
|colspan="2" {{n/a}}
|style="text-align:center;" |37.33
|style="text-align:center;" |{{Gold1}}
|}

== Table tennis ==
{{main|Table tennis at the 1972 Summer Paralympics}}

{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
|-align=center
!rowspan="2"|Athlete/Team
!rowspan="2"|Event
!colspan="3"|Group Stage
!Quarterfinals
!Semifinals
!colspan="2"|Final / {{abbr|BM|Bronze medal match}}
|-
!Opposition<br />Result
!Opposition<br />Result
!Rank
!Opposition<br />Result
!Opposition<br />Result
!Opposition<br />Result
!Rank
|-align=center
|align=left|India
|align=left|[[Table tennis at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's teams 3]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/table-tennis/mens-teams-3|title=Results/Table tennis/Men's teams 3|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|access-date=1 June 2024|archive-date=28 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228065530/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/table-tennis/mens-teams-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
|{{flagIPC|FRG|1972 Summer}}<br/> '''L''' 0–3
|{{flagIPC|USA|1972 Summer}}<br/> '''L''' 0–3
|3
|colspan="4" {{n/a|Did not advance}}
|}

== Weightlifting ==
{{main|Weightlifting at the 1972 Summer Paralympics}}

{|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%"
|-
!Athlete
!Event
!Result
!Rank
|-
|[[Makandi]]
|[[Weightlifting at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|Men's featherweight]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/weightlifting/mens-featherweight|title=Results/Weightlifting/Men's featherweight|access-date=1 June 2024|work=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915135921/https://www.paralympic.org/heidelberg-1972/results/weightlifting/mens-featherweight|url-status=live}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;" |75
|style="text-align:center;" |6
|}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{NPCin1972SummerParalympics}}

[[Category:Nations at the 1972 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:India at the Paralympics|1972]]
[[Category:1972 in Indian sport]]