Yogesh Kathuniya Achieves Silver Medal in Men’s Discus Throw at Paris 2024 Paralympics
In the recently concluded Paris 2024 Paralympics, Indian para-athlete Yogesh Kathuniya demonstrated exceptional skill and determination by securing a silver medal in the men’s discus throw F56 event. The 27-year-old athlete achieved his season-best throw of 42.22 meters during the final competition held on Monday.
Brazil’s Claudiney Batista claimed the gold medal with an impressive throw of 46.86 meters, setting a new Paralympic record. Greece’s Konstantinos Tzounis completed the podium, taking home the bronze medal with a throw of 41.32 meters. Reflecting on the competition, Kathuniya shared, “My first throw was my best, but I was just warming up, so I was relaxed. On my next attempt I tried really hard and felt some pain in my shoulder, so I could not produce my best after that.”
Despite his dedication and hard work, Kathuniya expressed disappointment at securing the silver medal for the second consecutive time, having previously won a silver at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 44.38 meters. “I keep getting silver and I must work harder,” he remarked. “I am not happy to have silver again. I know the Brazilian (Claudiney Batista) is beatable. I can throw 48 meters; I do it all the time. I was doing it in the warm-up, so to lose to him today is hard.”
Yogesh Kathuniya is not only a two-time Paralympic medallist but also a three-time Para World Championships medallist and a silver medalist at the last year’s Asian Para Games, in the same F56 category. The F56 class is designated for athletes who use a wheelchair or throwing chair due to various physical impairments that affect muscle power and movement.
This silver medal marks India’s eighth overall at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and the fourth medal in athletics. Prior to Kathuniya’s achievement, Preethi Pal won two bronze medals in the T35 class for the 100m and 200m events, while Nishad Kumar earned a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 category. The Indian contingent also excelled in para shooting, with Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal winning gold and bronze in the SH1 class 10m air rifle shooting, and both Manish Narwal and Rubina Francis earning silver and bronze in their respective 10m air pistol SH1 events.
In conclusion, while Yogesh Kathuniya fell short of the gold medal this time, his performance highlights his potential and the bright future that lies ahead for him in para athletics. With a steadfast resolve to improve, Kathuniya remains hopeful and determined to continue striving for excellence in his athletic career.
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