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India's star javelin thrower Sumit Antil scripted history in Paris as he became the first Indian male athlete to defend his title at the Paralympics. With a Paralympics record-breaking throw of 70.59 metre, Antil won his second consecutive gold at the games. It helped India rise to the 15th spot in the medals tally.
In Tokyo Paralympics, Sumit won the gold with a 68.55 metre throw. In Paris, he started with a record-breaking throw of 69.11. In his second throw, he kicked it up a notch and his javelin travelled a distance of 70.59 metre. His other three out of four registered throws were 66.66m, 69.04m and 66.57m.
Sumit was far ahead of his competitors in the F64 category. Sri Lanka's Dulan Kodithuwakku won the silver medal with 67.03 metre throw. Australia's Michael Burian bagged the bronze medal with a 64.89 metre throw. India's Sandeep Chaudhary missed out on the bronze as his best was 62.80m. Another Indian competing at the event was Sandip Sanjay Sargar who finished seventh with a throw of 58.03m.
Sumit enters elite list of para-athletes
Sumit joined the elite three-member club of Indian athletes who have won two Paralympics gold. The first to do it was current Paralympics Committee of India President Devendra Jhajharia. He won gold medals in F46 category in 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Games.
The other member on the exclusive list is shooter Avani Lekhara who won the gold medal in women's 10m air rifle standing SH1 event at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 games.
Sumit took pain killers before breaking Paralympics record
However, Sumit could not breach the 75 mark, the high standards he had set for himself before boarding the flight to Paris. He revealed that he won the gold medal after having pain killers.
"My back pain is not yet completely healed, I was feeling it in the last two training sessions. Today also, I did my throws after having pain killers. I have been competing by managing it (my injury)," Antil said after winning the gold.
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"I suffered this injury in 2023 and I played Asian Para Games in China (where he had won gold) last year carrying this injury. I did not have enough time to recover from the injury. I need rest. We will sort this injury after returning to India."
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