Sumit Antil Makes History as First Indian Male Para-Athlete to Defend Paralympic Title, Wins Javelin Gold
In a remarkable achievement, Sumit Antil emerged victorious in the men’s javelin throw F64 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, securing the gold medal and making history as the first Indian male para-athlete to successfully defend a title in the Paralympic Games. The esteemed 26-year-old athlete set a new Paralympic record with an impressive throw of 70.59 meters at Stade de France on Monday, surpassing his own previous record established during the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Starting with a throw of 69.11 meters, Sumit Antil shattered his own former mark of 68.55 meters to take the lead. He continued to excel, achieving his winning throw of 70.59 meters on his second attempt, further refining his record. Even in his attempts, Sumit demonstrated consistency and skill by registering a fifth attempt throw of 69.04 meters, topping his Tokyo performance once more. It is noteworthy that he also holds the world record of 73.29 meters in the F64 category.
In other results from the event, fellow Indian athlete Sandeep Choudhary competed in the F44 classification, finishing in fourth place for the third consecutive Games with a throw measuring 62.80 meters. Additionally, Sandip Sanjay Sargar, also an F44 competitor, placed seventh after achieving a throw of 58.03 meters. Notably, the silver medal was awarded to Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakku, who set a world record of 67.03 meters in the F44 category, while Australia’s Michal Burian secured the bronze with a throw of 64.89 meters.
It is essential to recognize that the javelin throw final featured athletes from both the F44 and F64 categories, which pertain to sports classes for individuals with limb deficiencies, enabling these competitors to participate in a standing position. In classifications 42-44, the impairment affects the legs, while those with leg deficiencies competing with prosthesis fall under the F61-64 classification.
Sumit Antil’s gold medal represents India’s third triumph at the ongoing Games, where badminton player Nitesh Kumar previously won gold in the men’s SL3 class, and Avani Lekhara successfully defended her title in the 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1 event on Friday. These achievements highlight India’s growing prowess in Paralympic sports and set a precedent for future athletes in this prestigious arena.
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