Tokyo Paralympics: Javelin thrower Sumit Antil clinches India's 2nd gold, shatters world record thrice
Synopsis
The 23-year-old from Sonepat in Haryana, Sumit's best throw of the day read 68.55m at his fifth attempt; annihilating his previous world record of 62.88m (in 2019).
Javelin thrower Sumit Antil scripted history on Monday to clinch India's second gold at the ongoing Paralympics, breaking his own world record thrice in a stunning Games debut performance.
The 23-year-old from Sonepat in Haryana, Sumit's best throw of the day read 68.55m at his fifth attempt; annihilating his previous world record of 62.88m (in 2019). The other Indian in the fray in the event, Sandeep (62.20m) finished fourth and missed the bronze medal by less than a metre.
Antil lost his left leg below the knee after he was involved in a motorbike accident in 2015. He clinched the gold in the F64 category which is for athletes with a leg amputation, and who compete with prosthetics in a standing position.
Australian Michal Burian (66.29m) and Sri Lanka's Dulan Kodithuwakku (65.61m) bagged the silver and bronze respectively.
PM Modi congratulated the champion for clinching the gold in his debut performance at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
Earlier in the day, Devendra Jhajharia clinched a stupendous third Paralympic medal, a silver this time, while discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya also finished second.
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