What are the different sports classes of Para-Athletics?

After the successful hosting of the Olympic Games, Paris is ready to host another mega event, The Paralympic Games, scheduled from August 28 to September 8. This multi-sport event will offer 549 medals across 23 sports.

One of those sports is Para Athletics, which is the most diversified category at the Paralympic Games, having 164 medal events with more than 50 sports classes.

India will be sending its largest-ever contingent to the Paris Paralympics, which have 84 athletes. In addition, 38 of those athletes will be competing in the Para-Athletics events.

How the classification of sports classes works in para-athletics:

Para Athletics has a unique way of describing a sports class that uses one prefix and then a certain two-digit number to form a sports class code.

The prefix has only two alphabets in it, which depends on the type of the event. The track events are classified as T in the prefix while the field events are classified as F.

But the main criteria of classification is that two-digit number:

T/F 11-13: Blind and visually impaired athletes

The first category is T11-13 or F11-13, this category is for visually impaired athletes. Here, the T11 athletes are completely blind whereas the T12 and T13 athletes have partial visual impairments

In this category, the track athletes with T11 impairment needed a guide runner with them, who could lead them in a straight line, without any injury.

However, It’s the guide’s responsibility that the athlete cross the finish line ahead of him. The athletes of the T12 category may or may to use the guide but in T13 the guides are not allowed in the race.

India will have two athletes in this classification at the Paris Paralympic Games which included world champion Simran Sharma (Women’s 200m T12).

T/F20: Athletes with intellectual impairment

The T20 category is for athletes who have intellectual disabilities. The athletes in this category have strict rules and they need to meet the following criteria to be eligible in this category.

-Have an IQ of 75 or lower

-Have significant limitations in adaptive behavior, such as communication, self-care, and social skills

-Have acquired these limitations before the age of 22

The T20 category has only four events at the Paralympic Games, i.e. 400m, 1500m, Long jump, and Shot-put.

World Champion Deepthi Jeevanji (Women’s 400 m T20) will be the lone Indian athlete in this category at Paris

T/F 32-38: Athletes who have coordination impairments.

The T32-38 category is for athletes with coordination impairments where a lower number indicates a more severe impairment.

The criteria for this category included increased muscle tone, involuntary muscle contractions, and cerebral palsy.

In this classification, the categories of T31-T34 and F31-34 are wheelchair categories while the T/F(35 to T38) classes are for athletes with walking abilities.

India’s flagbearer at the Paris Paralympics, Bhagyashree Jadhav (Women’s Shot put F34), will be competing in this sports class category

F40-41:Athletes who have dwarfism.

There are two classes in this category, depending on the athlete’s body height and the upper limbs’ proportionality. Athletes in class F40 have a shorter stature than F41.

Male athletes under 130cm and female athletes under 125cm can compete in this category. This classification only has the field events and no track events.

World Championships medalist Navdeep Singh (Men’s Javelin throw F41) and Shot putter Ravi Rangoli (F40) will represent India in this sports class.

T/F 42-47: Athletes who are amputees.

In this classification, athletes have impairment in their limbs and have impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement.

Here, the T42-44 is primarily for the lower limb impairment like leg length difference while the T45-47 has upper limb/s affected by limb deficiency.

India has 11 representations in this category including the reigning Paralympic medalist Nishad Kumar (Men’s High Jump T47) in this sports class category.

T/F 51-58: Athletes with a spinal cord injury or disability.

The T51–58 classification is for athletes with spinal cord injuries and some amputations. The classification system allows athletes to compete against others with similar levels of function.

The T51 classification includes athletes with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and minimal upper body function. These athletes use wheelchairs and compete in wheelchair racing events. Similar classifications include T52, T53 and T54.

The F55-58 categories are primarily for the Field events where the athletes take throws from a sitting position. A lower number indicates a more severe impairment, like- F51 is more severe in comparison to F57.

Three-time world medalist, Yogesh Kathuniya (Men’s Discus throw F56) will be the star attraction from India in this sports class category.

T/F 61-64: Athletes who have a prosthesis

The primary impairments of this category are in the lower limbs and include only limb deficiency and leg length discrepancy.

All athletes in these classes compete from a standing position without support but they use prostheses. This classification is said to be one of the most high-scoring categories in terms of throws and marks.

India has seven athletes in this category including reigning world champion, Sumit Antil (Men’s Javelin Trow F64), and Mariyappan Thangavelu (High Jump T63).