Star Indian javelin thrower, Sumit Antil on Monday, September 2 became the first Indian man and second from the country to defend his Paralympics title. The Indian para-athlete, who featured in the F64 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, broke his previous Games record twice while he clinched a gold.
Antil, who entered the Games as the gold medal winner after his heroics at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, etched a new record with his 70.59m throw. With this, he bettered his previous record of 68.55m. It is to be noted that the 26-year-old also hold the world record which stands at 73.29m. While his record throw of 70.59m came in his second attempt, he began with a 69.11m throw, surpassing the Games record as well as his personal best.
While Antil secured the gold, setting a new Paralympic Games record, Dulan Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka sealed the silver with a 67.03m throw, whereas Australia’s Michal Burian won the bronze with a throw of 64.89m. Two other Indians in the fray, Sandeep and Sandip Sanjay Sargar, finished fourth and seventh with throws of 62.80m and 58.03m respectively.
Sumit Antil joins Avani Lekhara to defend Paralympics title
The reigning world champion, Sumit Antil joined Avani Lekhara as he became the second Indian to defend the Paralympics title. The Indian para-shooter recently won a gold in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1 event after her gold medal win at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. Moreover, the Haryana-born athlete has also joined the three-member club of Indians to win two golds in Paralympic Games. While Avani Lekhara is one of them, Antil joined Devendra Jhajharia, who won the javelin throw F46 gold at the 2004 Athen and 2016 Rio Games.
Furthermore, Sumit Antil’s gold was the third for India after Avani Lekhara and Nitesh Kumar, who won in men’s singles SL3 event, beating Great Britain’s Daniel Bethell with a scoreline of 21-14, 18-21, 23-21 in a 79-minute-long contest.