India Achieves Record 29 Paralympic Medals, Secures Chess, Esports World Titles

India's National Sports Day 2025 highlights a landmark year with exceptional achievements across various sports disciplines. The Indian Paralympic team set a new record by winning 29 medals at the 2024 Paralympics, including seven golds, marking the highest tally ever and featuring a historic day where eight medals were won in less than 12 hours. Chess saw a breakthrough as 18-year-old Dommaraju Gukesh became the youngest world champion, signaling a promising future for Indian chess on the global stage. Esports gained significant recognition with the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which officially separated esports from gambling and established it as a legitimate sport, bolstered by India's first esports world champion Ved Bamb and recent international successes. While celebrating these sporting milestones, environmental concerns regarding adventure sports were also raised, emphasizing the impact on local habitats due to activities like deforestation, pollution, and wildlife disturbance. Additionally, ongoing events such as the Asia Cup in hockey, preparations for upcoming World Boxing and Para Athletics Championships, and the growth of sports tourism underscore India's vibrant and evolving sports landscape.