India first participated at the Deaflympics in 1965. The country won its first Deaflympic medal at the 1981 Summer Deaflympics in Cologne, where Satish Kumar secured a silver medal in the 25 km event and a bronze medal in the 10,000 m athletics event. India later won its first gold medal at the 1989 Summer Deaflympics in badminton, when Sandeep Singh Dhillon secured a gold medal in men’s badminton doubles.
Indian athletes have won a total of 72 medals, all at the Summer Games. India's best performance came at the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, where India won 20 medals, including nine gold and seven silver.
History India became affiliated with the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf in 1963 through the All India Federation of the Deaf, which was established in 22 December 1955. The All India Sports Council of the Deaf, established in 1965 as the federation’s sports wing, later assumed responsibility for managing India’s participation in the Deaflympics. As of 2024, the AISCD has affiliations with a total of 24 National Sports Federations.
Deaflympic overview India began participating in the Deaflympics since the 1965 Summer Deaflympics.
1965 Summer Deaflympics India sent a delegation to compete at the 1965 Summer Deaflympics in Washington, D.C., United States which took place from June 27 to July 3, 1965. It was the nation's debut appearance at the Deaflympics. The delegation consisted of seven athletes competing in athletics, table tennis and tennis.
1981 Summer Deaflympics India sent six athletes to compete at the 1981 Summer Deaflympics in Cologne, Germany which took place from July 23 to August 1, 1981. India won its first Deaflympics medals at the Games. Satish Kumar secured a silver medal in the 25 km event and a bronze medal in the 10,000 m athletics event.
1989 Summer Deaflympics India sent ten athletes to compete at the 1989 Summer Deaflympics in Christchurch, New Zealand. India won its first Deaflympics gold medal at the 1989 Summer Deaflympics in Christchurch, New Zealand in badminton. Sandeep Singh Dhillon won gold in the men’s doubles event.
1993 Summer Deaflympics India sent a delegation of 29 athletes to compete at the 1993 Summer Deaflympics in Sofia,Bulgaria. which took place from 24 July 1993 to 2 August 1993. India won seven medals, including five gold and two bronze medals, and finished eighth in the medal table. This was an increase from the three medals won at the 1989 Summer Deaflympics and represented India’s highest medal tally at the event up to that time.
2009 Summer Deaflympics India sent a delegation of 24 athletes to compete at the 2009 Summer Deaflympics in Taipei,Taiwan , which took place from 5 to 15 September 2009. Virender Singh won India's only medal. He won a bronze medal in wrestling.
2013 Summer Deaflympics India sent a delegation of 35 athletes to compete at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics in Sofia,Bulgaria, which took place from July 26 to August 4, 2013. Virender Singh won India's only medal. He won a gold medal in wrestling.
2017 Summer Deaflympics
India sent a delegation of 46 athletes to compete at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics in Samsun,Turkey, which took place from July 18 to July 30, 2017. Indian athletes claimed 5 medals in the event including a gold medal and 2 bronze medals. Diksha Dagar claimed a silver medal in the women's individual event in golf ,which made its debut at the 2017 Summer Deaflympics. Prithvi Sekhar and Jafreen Shaik won a bronze medal in Tennis (mixed doubles).
2021 Summer Deaflympics
India achieved one of its best performances at the 2021 Summer Deaflympics held in 2022 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil. India won 16 medals including 8 gold medals, and finishing among the top ten countries in the medal table. Jerlin Anika won 3 gold medals, making her the first Indian woman Deaflympian to win multiple medals in one Games. Diksha Dagar won India's first gold medal in golf. Dhanush Srikanth won gold, Shourya Saini won bronze in Men's 10m air rifle shooting event.
Breakthrough at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo
India recorded its best-ever performance at the 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo. India won 20 medals, including 9 gold and achieved the 6th rank, which is the highest position in the overall medal table.
Loma Swain secured India’s first-ever Deaflympics medal in Karate, winning bronze in the Women's Kumite 50kg. Diksha Dagar successfully defended her gold Medal by winning the event by a record-breaking 14-stroke margin.
Dominance of shooting at the 2025 Deaflympics At the 2025 Summer Deaflympics held in Tokyo, shooting turned out to be the most successful sport for the Indian contingent during the Deaflympic Games.
Indian shooters won 16 medals, including 7 gold, 6 silver, and 3 bronze medals. This was the highest number of medals won by India in any single sport at the competition.
Mahit Sandhu was India's most successful shooter with 4 medals (2 gold, 2 silver), including Gold in the Women's 50m Rifle 3 Positions and Mixed 10m Air Rifle Team. Dhanush Srikanth won gold in the Men's 10m Air Rifle with a Deaf Final World Record (252.2) and gold in the Mixed 10m Air Rifle Team. Abhinav Deshwal secured 3 medals (2 gold, 1 silver), winning gold in the Men's 25m Pistol and Mixed 10m Air Pistol Team. Pranjali Dhumal clinched 3 medals (2 gold, 1 silver), winning Gold in the Women's 25m Pistol. Anuya Prasad won gold in the Women's 10m Air Pistol with a World Record Deaflympic score. Mohammed Murtaza Vania won silver in the 10m Air Rifle (Men) and a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Team (Mixed). Kushagra Singh Rajawat won bronze at the 50m Rifle Prone (Men) .
Medal count India has won a total of 72 medals at the Summer Deaflympics since its debut in 1965. Games Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank1924 ParisDid not participate1928 Amsterdam1931 Nuremberg1935 London1939 Stockholm1949 Copenhagen1953 Brussels1957 Milan1961 Helsinki 1965 Washington DC 0 0 0 0 –1969 BelgradeDid not participate 1973 Malmö 0 0 0 0 – 1977 Bucharest 0 0 0 0 – 1981 Cologne 0 2 1 3 21st 1985 Los Angeles 0 0 1 1 21st 1989 Christchurch 2 1 0 3 1993 Sofia 5 0 2 7 8th 1997 Copenhagen 3 3 1 7 15th 2001 Rome 3 0 0 3 15th 2005 Melbourne 3 1 3 7 2009 Taipei 0 0 1 1 2013 Sofia 1 0 0 1 2017 Samsun 1 1 2 4 26th 2021 Caxias do Sul 8 1 7 16 9th 2025 Tokyo 9 7 4 20 6th
Total athletes Host cityMaleFemaleTotalReferences1965 Washington DC7071969 BelgradeDid not participate1973 Malmö8081977 Bucharest3031981 Cologne6061985 Los Angeles103131989 Christchurch100101993 Sofia245291997 Copenhagen182202001 Rome4592005 Melbourne2617432009 Taipei195242013 Sofia2015352017 Samsun2719462021 Caxias do Sul3826642025 Tokyo452873
Milestones MilestonesMedalistGamesSportMedalsRef.First MedalistSatish Kumar1981 Cologne SilverFirst individual medalistFirst Gold medalistSandeep Singh Dhillon1989 Christchurch GoldFirst individual gold medalistFirst woman MedalistSonu Anand Sharma1997 Copenhagen GoldFirst multi-medalistVirender Singh2005 Melbourne Gold2009 Taipei Bronze2013 Sofia Gold2017 Samsun Gold2021 Caxias do Sul BronzeFirst woman multi-medalistDiksha Dagar2017 Samsun Silver2021 Caxias do Sul Gold
Medals by sport
+Sport Gold Silver BronzeTotal17252410652151392103153901340011Karate0011
See also
India at the Olympics India at the Paralympics India at the Asian Games Deaflympics
References