Indian javelin thrower Sumit Antil continued his dominance on the world stage, defending his F64 javelin throw title at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Haryana athlete sent the spear soaring to a distance of 69.50m, securing the gold medal.
Antil dominated the nine-man competition, leading from the start. He opened with a strong throw of 68.17 meters, and then went on to achieve his best throw of the day at 69.50 meters in his second attempt. His remaining throws were also impressive, reaching distances of 64.04 meters, 65.58 meters, 69.03 meters, and 68.08 meters.
Watch Sumit Antil’s 69.50 throw
This victory extends Antil’s reign as the world champion, having claimed gold at both the Tokyo Paralympics and the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. He also holds the current world record, achieved with a phenomenal throw of 73.29m at last year’s Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Athletics
India’s medal tally jumps to 10
Antil’s triumph was part of a productive day for India at the Championships. Thangavelu Mariyappan and Ekta Bhyan also clinched gold medals in their respective high jump (T63) and club throw events, adding to India’s growing medal tally.
With five medals secured on day five, India’s total climbs to an impressive 10 (4 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze). The nation currently sits behind China (15 gold, 13 silver, 13 bronze) and Brazil (14 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze) in the overall standings.
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