NEW DELHI: India’s differently-abled athletes ensured a record-breaking medal haul in the World Para Athletics Championships. On Saturday, they claimed three additional medals, bringing the tally to 18, including six gold. This surpassed the previous best of 17 medals achieved at the previous edition in Japan’s Kobe last year.
Ekta Bhyan, Soman Rana and Praveen Kumar were among the medallists on the penultimate day of the championships at the JLN stadium here. India are expected to finish their campaign with over 20 medals. Paris Paralympics gold medallist javelin thrower Navdeep Singh and reigning world champion in women’s 100m T12, Simran Sharma , are set to compete in their respective finals on Sunday, with Indian para athletes participating in six medal events.
In the women’s club throw F51 event, Ekta secured a silver with a season-best effort of 19.80m. She secured the medal on her sixth and final attempt, after throwing 16.52m, 18.14m, 17.22m, 19.60m, 17.09m and finally 19.80m.
The 40-year-old Ekta faced difficulty in gripping the club due to high humidity, adjusting her movements throughout her final. Ekta, the defending champion, could not secure a successive title in front of the home crowd. Kashish Lakra, the other Indian competitor, finished sixth with an effort of 11.64m.
“It was hot and humid. In our discipline, thermoregulation is a big challenge, so I found it challenging. I drank a lot of water to keep myself going,” Ekta said.
In 2003, Ekta suffered a life-altering road accident near Kundli in Sonepat district when a speeding truck hit the cab she was travelling in. Six passengers died, while Ekta was seriously injured with a spinal cord injury that confined her to a wheelchair. The club throw F51 classification is for athletes with severely impaired muscle power or range of movement in their trunk, legs, and hands, requiring them to compete from a seated position.
In the men’s shot put F57 final, India’s Soman Rana’s bronze was upgraded to silver in a dramatic fashion. Brazilian Thiago Paulino Dos Santos, who had originally finished second with 14.82m saw his throw later disqualified, leaving him with a fifth-place finish and a best throw of 14.42m. In the updated result sheet on the World Para Athletics’ website, Santos’ 14.82m effort was removed and marked as foul. Consequently, Rana was awarded the silver with a season-best throw of 14.69m on his fourth attempt. Rana lost his right leg in a mine blast in Dec 2006 while serving in the Indian Army.
Iran’s Yasin Khosravi claimed gold with a world record throw of 16.60m, while Finland’s Teijo Koopikka took bronze with 14.51m. Later, it was informed that a protest had been filed by the Brazilian side and Saudi Arabia’s Haidr Salamh, who finished fourth with 14.47m. The verdict from global governing body will be pronounced on Sunday.
In men’s high jump T64, Paralympic and Asian Games champion Praveen Kumar won bronze with a clearance of 2.00m, while another Indian, Banti (1.87m), finished sixth. Praveen, who was born with a short leg, attributed his performance to a hip joint injury sustained 10 days before the championships.
Ekta Bhyan, Soman Rana and Praveen Kumar were among the medallists on the penultimate day of the championships at the JLN stadium here. India are expected to finish their campaign with over 20 medals. Paris Paralympics gold medallist javelin thrower Navdeep Singh and reigning world champion in women’s 100m T12, Simran Sharma , are set to compete in their respective finals on Sunday, with Indian para athletes participating in six medal events.
In the women’s club throw F51 event, Ekta secured a silver with a season-best effort of 19.80m. She secured the medal on her sixth and final attempt, after throwing 16.52m, 18.14m, 17.22m, 19.60m, 17.09m and finally 19.80m.
The 40-year-old Ekta faced difficulty in gripping the club due to high humidity, adjusting her movements throughout her final. Ekta, the defending champion, could not secure a successive title in front of the home crowd. Kashish Lakra, the other Indian competitor, finished sixth with an effort of 11.64m.
“It was hot and humid. In our discipline, thermoregulation is a big challenge, so I found it challenging. I drank a lot of water to keep myself going,” Ekta said.
In 2003, Ekta suffered a life-altering road accident near Kundli in Sonepat district when a speeding truck hit the cab she was travelling in. Six passengers died, while Ekta was seriously injured with a spinal cord injury that confined her to a wheelchair. The club throw F51 classification is for athletes with severely impaired muscle power or range of movement in their trunk, legs, and hands, requiring them to compete from a seated position.
In the men’s shot put F57 final, India’s Soman Rana’s bronze was upgraded to silver in a dramatic fashion. Brazilian Thiago Paulino Dos Santos, who had originally finished second with 14.82m saw his throw later disqualified, leaving him with a fifth-place finish and a best throw of 14.42m. In the updated result sheet on the World Para Athletics’ website, Santos’ 14.82m effort was removed and marked as foul. Consequently, Rana was awarded the silver with a season-best throw of 14.69m on his fourth attempt. Rana lost his right leg in a mine blast in Dec 2006 while serving in the Indian Army.
Iran’s Yasin Khosravi claimed gold with a world record throw of 16.60m, while Finland’s Teijo Koopikka took bronze with 14.51m. Later, it was informed that a protest had been filed by the Brazilian side and Saudi Arabia’s Haidr Salamh, who finished fourth with 14.47m. The verdict from global governing body will be pronounced on Sunday.
In men’s high jump T64, Paralympic and Asian Games champion Praveen Kumar won bronze with a clearance of 2.00m, while another Indian, Banti (1.87m), finished sixth. Praveen, who was born with a short leg, attributed his performance to a hip joint injury sustained 10 days before the championships.
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