Indian Para Athletes Continue To Shine, Grab Three More Spots For Tokyo Paralympics

Indian para-athletes hit another high as India secured three more slots for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics after Javelin throwers Sundar Singh Gurjar and Ajeet Singh claimed gold and bronze, while Rinku claimed the fourth place at the ongoing World Para Athletics Championships.

Sundar Singh Gurjar prevailed over a shoulder injury to clinch the second gold for India with a season-best performance of 61.22 metres. Sundar, who was battling a shoulder injury, was in the second place until his fifth attempt.

However, his eyes were set on the gold and he chucked the javelin to a distance of 61.22 metres in his sixth attempt to trounce Sri Lanka’s Dinesh P. Herath Mudiyanselage and take the top spot.

Sundar, with his performance, also rewrote the history books as he became the second Indian to have secured two World Championships medal after Devendra Jhajharia’s gold and silver in the 2013 Lyon and 2015 Doha Championships.

Ajeet Singh had to settle for bronze with a throw of 59.46 metres. The silver went to Sril Lanka’s Dinesh P. Herath for his 60.59 metres throw in the first attempt. India’s Rinku took fourth place with a throw of 57.59 metres, to help India book another spot for Paralympics 2020.

Earlier, Sandeep Chaudhary and Sumit Antil had booked the quota for Tokyo Paralympics Games as they took the top two spots in the Javelin F64 finals at the World Para Athletics Championships.

Sandeep had clinched the gold with an effort of 66.18 m as he also bettered his own record of 65.80 m in F44 category.

Indian contingent has so far secured two gold, one silver and a bronze from the ongoing World Para Athletics Championships.

Later in the day, six Indian players, including club throwers Ekta Bhyan and Kashish Lakra, will be seen in action in women’s Club Throw F51 final, while the discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya will compete in Men’s discus throw F56 Final.

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