Report by Yashasvi Anika Tandon
Deaflympics are special Olympics for deaf people. They take place every 4 years.
This time, they are being held in the Brazilian city of Caxias do Sul and it is the 24th edition.
The Deaflympics commenced (started) on the 1st of May and will get over by the 15th of May 2022.
2,100 sportspeople from 117 countries are participating in the event.
India has sent its largest contingent ever, having 65 athletes participating in 11 different sports.
The Deaflympics started in 1924 and India made its debut in 1965. The first edition of the games was held in Paris. At that time, the Deaflympics were known as International Silent Games. They are taking place in South America for the first time. The logo for this year’s Deaflympics is Nino the fox.
The countries participating in the Deaflympics are:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Gambia Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Guinea, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, RCDS, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The sports featured at the Deaflympics are:
Athletics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cycling road, football, golf, handball, judo, karate, mountain bike, orienteering, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, freestyle wrestling, Greco and Roman style wrestling.
As of now, Ukraine is at the top of the medal tally with 42 golds, 22 silver, and 25 bronze medals.
India’s current progress at the Deaflympics:
| Name of Sportsperson | Event | Medal won |
| Dhanush Srikanth | Men’s 10m Air Rifle | Gold |
| Abhinav Sharma and Aaditya Yadav | Mixed Doubles – Badminton | Gold |
| Abhinav Deshwal | Men’s 10m Air Pistol | Gold |
| Dhanush Srikanth and Priyesha Deshmukh | Mixed 10m Air Rifle | Gold |
| Vedika Sharma | Women’s 10m Air Pistol | Bronze |
| Shourya Saini | Men’s 10m Air Rifle | Bronze |