Indian javelin thrower Sumit Antil has been achieving some exceptional feats over the last few years. Apart from bettering his own world record in the men’s javelin F64 category four times in three years, he has only been winning gold medals, in every competition he is a part of. This time Sumit won the top prize at the Asian Para Games, smashing his world record by close to 3m, getting a throw of 73.29m. The next best in this category doesn’t even matter, since the Indian is almost 10m above the silver medalist.
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Sumit Antil Wants to Compete at Paris 2024
Back in 2021, right after the Paralympics, where as usual he won a gold medal, Sumit expressed his desire to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. “I wish to take part in both the Olympics and Paralympics. That’s my dream,” Antil, who lost his left leg below the knee after he was involved in a motorbike accident in 2015, said in a release issued by Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
“During my training, I have been touching the 70m-mark. And I dream of throwing between 75 to 80m and that should be enough to compete amongst the able-bodied athletes.
“Once I return from Tokyo, I will be training for that for sure,” he had added.
Sumit Antil vs Asian Games 2023 finalists
While time might be running out for Sumit, as far as the Paris 2024 Games is concerned, but if he goes on to throw the way he has been, one never knows, he might be competing at the LA28 Games. Just for reference, going by his throw of 73.29m at the Asian Para Games, he would have made it to the top 8 of the Asian Games javelin final, which concluded earlier this month.
Can Sumit actually compete at Olympics?
If Sumit can actually go on to achieve a distance of 80m plus, then there isn’t any reason why he cannot participate at the Olympics. In the past South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius was a part of the South African team, and was in the 400m and 4x400m relay events. He in fact made it to the semis of the individual event, which was a remarkable effort by the double amputee.
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