Tokyo: Sumit Antil did India proud by winning the men’s javelin (F64) gold at the Tokyo Paralympics on Monday with a world record-shattering performance.
Sumit set a world record, not once but thrice, to give India their second gold in the Games. Avani Lekhara had bagged the yellow metal earlier in the day, in women’s shooting.
India have also claimed three silver medals.
Sumit’s first throw of 66.95 metres was good enough to rewrite the world mark. He bettered that with an effort of 68.08 metres on his second attempt, and even surpassed that by hurling the javelin to a distance of 68.55 metres.
It’s a happy coincidence as Neeraj Chopra clinched a historic men’s javelin gold at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this month. It was India’s maiden athletics in the Games and the first medal in track & field in 121 years.