India’s Sumit Antil shattered records en route to a historic gold in Jevelin throw event in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. Sumit claimed a podium finish after setting a new world record at 68.55m. He covered a distance of 66.95 in his first attempt to set a new world record before bettering it in the second throw. In the fifth throw, he again set a new world record at 68.55m. Another Indian in the fray, Sandeep Chaudhary finished fourth with a best throw of 62.20m. Australian Michal Burian made a throw of 66.29m to claim Silver while Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakku settled for a bronze.
Antil’s first throw of 66.95 put him in the lead. He then recorded a throw of 68.08 in his second throw, another world record. His third and fourth throws were 65.27 and 66.71 but by then he had already sealed the gold for India. Then in the final attempt, he threw 68.55, to set a new world record for the third time in the day.
This was India’s second gold in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. Earlier, shooter Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win gold at Olympics. She claimed a podium finish after finishing at the top in the 10m Air Rifle
Meanwhile, India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra, who won gold in the same event in Tokyo Olympics congratulated Sumit for his historic gold.
ख़तरनाक performance भाई सुमित 👌💪 proud of you 🇮🇳 https://t.co/CNUDDtPAc7
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) August 30, 2021
SPEECHLESS 🤩
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 30, 2021
🔥 Sumit Antil sets a WR with his first 66.95m throw!
🔥 Breaks his OWN WR with his second 68.08m attempt!
🔥 Breaks it yet AGAIN in his 5th attempt with 68.55m
🔥 Wins the Men's Javelin F64 #Gold for #IND! #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/q3Nl2m1dLM
World record over world record... First throw makes one with 66.95 and second throw breaks it with 68+ ... God #SumitAntil is rocking the @Paralympics @Tokyo2020hi @ianuragthakur @Media_SAI @NisithPramanik @IndiaSports @narendramodi @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/sZ1dHKPF3V
— Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) August 30, 2021
Another Gold for India! Sumit Antil breaking the world record thrice in the men's javelin F64! Absolutely astonishing display of strength to cap off an excellent day for India in the #Tokyo2020 Paralympics! Take a bow young man! #Praise4Para
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 30, 2021
Sumit was an able bodied wrestler before losing his left leg below the knee in an accident in 2015