It was an eventful day for India in athletics at the Tokyo Paralympics as the Indian para-athletes clinched their third medal in javelin throw, including a gold by Sumit Antil.
On Monday, August 30, Sumit Antil broke his own world record not once but thrice and clinched gold for India in the F64 event at Tokyo Paralympics with a world record throw of 68.55m. With this Sumit Antil won the second gold for India at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the first para-athletics gold medal for India three weeks after Neeraj Chopra bagged first-ever gold in athletics.
According to World Para Athletics classification, under F64, “the primary impairments are in the lower limbs and include only limb deficiency and leg length discrepancy. All athletes in these classes compete standing without support and they mush use prosthesis/es.”
Javelin thrower Sumit Antil’s historic performance
The 23-year-old from Sonepat, Sumit Antil dominated the finals with his throws reading 66.95m, 68.08m, 65.27m, 66.71m, and 68.55m and a foul.
With Antil grabbing the Gold, Australia’s Michal Burian (66.29m) and Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakku (65.61m) won the silver and bronze respectively.
Another Indian para-athlete Sandeep (62.20m) finished fourth in the series thereby missing a chance of winning a bronze medal.
Earlier in the day, Devendra Jhajharia bagged a silver medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 Final, and Sundar Singh Gurjar winning a bronze medal in the same. F46 applies to athletes with a unilateral upper limb impairment roughly comparable to the activity limitations experienced by an athlete with a unilateral amputation of one arm through or above the wrist and one intact arm. Athletes with bilateral upper limb impairments where one arm meets the unilateral criteria, and the other affected arm does not does not meet the bilateral criteria above, also compete in this class.
Day 6 Medals
Ace shooter Avani Lekhara grabbed the first-ever gold for India in para shooting in women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1. This sport class is designated to athletes with lower limb impairment for competition in Rifle events.
Yogesh Kathuniya won a silver medal in Men’s Discus Throw Para Athletics Event.
Devendra Jhajharia bagged a silver medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 Final with a personal best throw of 64.35m. Sundar Singh Gurjar won a bronze medal with a season-best throw of 64.01m. Under F46, the primary impairments are in the upper limbs. All athletes in these classes compete standing without support.
India, with five medals on Monday, now has 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympics.
PBNS
