Finance
Sumit Antil, India’s two-time World Champion, created history on Monday by becoming the first para-athlete to win gold medals in consecutive Paralympic Games, winning the yellow metal in Men’s Javelin Throw F64 with a stunning Paralympic Record at the Stade de France.
Antil, the Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist, delivered a superb performance, taking the lead from the first throw and never looking back.
Antil’s gold medal is India’s third at the Paris Paralympic Games, following those won by Avani Lekhara in Women’s 10m Air Rifle SH1 and Nitesh Kumar in Men’s Singles SL3 badminton. It also took India’s tally to 14 medals – three gold, five silver, and six bronze medals, putting the country in 14th place in the medals table.
Antil, who owns the World Record of 73.29, broke the Paralympic Record with his first throw, flinging the spear to 69.11 metres, improving on his previous record of 68.55 metres achieved in Tokyo in 2021.
He improved it even more in his second throw, moving the javelin to 70.59 metres and effectively securing the gold medal because no other competitor came close to his first throw.
The 29-year-old Antil from Sonipat, Haryana, who won the World Championship gold in 2023 in Paris and again in 2024 in Kobe, Japan a few months ago, threw 66.66, a foul, 69.04, and 66.57 in his last tries.
Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakku won the silver medal with a best effort of 67.03, while Burian Michael of Australia took the bronze medal with a throw of 64.89.
India’s Sandeep Chaudhary finished fourth with a season’s best effort of 62.80.
Sumit Antil, a pre-tournament favourite for the gold medal in the Men’s F64 category, has become only the second Indian, after Devendra Jhajharia, to win two gold medals in track and field at the Paralympics. He is also the third Indian para-athlete after Jhajharia and Avani Lekhara to win several gold medals in the Paralympic Games.
Source:IANS
