Sumit Antil, a two-time world champion and Paralympics gold medallist in Tokyo, promised Prime Minister Narendra Modi he would add to his tally in Paris. In September, he did just that. By hurling the javelin a distance of 70.59m in the F64 class in the French capital, winning a gold medal as a result, he became the first Indian male para-athlete to defend his Paralympics title.
The evening in Paris was milestone-filled for the Sonipat-born para-athlete. He shattered his own Paralympic record (68.55m) with the first throw (69.11m). In the second throw, and eventually his best, he went 70.59m. He never saw his quest to win a gold medal be challenged. And yet, this wasn't even his best. His personal best, and the world record, stands at 73.29m, which he achieved at the Hangzhou Para-Asian Games.
