Sumit Antil retains Asian Para Games javelin gold in Indian medal sweep
Sumit Antil threw 72.46m to defend his title as India swept the men's javelin podium.
Sumit Antil won gold at the Asian Para Games with a 72.46m throw, while Mahendra Gurjar and Sandip Sargar took silver and bronze to complete India's sweep. India's medal tally reached 114, surpassing its previous best of 108.
Key takeaways
- Sumit Antil retained the Asian Para Games javelin gold with a 72.46m throw in his second attempt.
- Mahendra Gurjar won silver and Sandip Sargar won bronze, giving India a clean sweep in the combined men's javelin event.
- India's total medal haul touched 114, bettering the previous best of 108 from the 2023 Asian Para Games.
- The Games in Aichi-Nagoya conclude on Saturday.
- Pranav Soorma won his second gold of the Games in the men's club throw F51 final.
Sumit Antil stood at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Friday, javelin raised above shoulder level, eyes fixed on the landing field. He followed his familiar routine, charged down the runway and launched the spear into the distance. The throw travelled 72.46 metres, enough to defend his Asian Para Games crown in the men's javelin F64 category.
Antil's second attempt proved decisive. He let out his customary roar after the throw, then marched towards the stands to collect the national flag and pose for photographs, alternating between a thumbs up and a fist bump. Beside him stood Mahendra Gurjar with silver and Sandip Sargar with bronze, completing India's podium sweep in the men's javelin F42-F44/F61-F64 event.
The result contributed to a strong day for India, whose total medal haul reached 114 at the ongoing edition in Japan. That figure bettered the previous best of 108 won at the delayed 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. The current tally includes a record 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze medals. The Games draw to a close on Saturday.
Antil, 28 and from Haryana, was defending his Asian Para Games crown for the first time after finishing fifth in his debut edition in 2018. He entered Japan as the overwhelming favourite and already held the world, continental and Asian Para Games records. He is the reigning two-time Paralympic champion and has won three consecutive World Championships gold medals.
India won nine gold medals on Friday. Pranav Soorma claimed gold in the men's club throw F51 final, with Dharambir Nain taking bronze. It was Soorma's second gold at the Games after his discus throw F51-53 victory. Mona Agarwal won her second gold in the R8 women's 50m rifle 3 Positions SH1 event, having earlier won the R2 10m air rifle SH1 final. She and Nishad Kumar will be India's flag-bearers at the closing ceremony.
Sandeep opened Friday with gold in the men's 400m T64 race, while Ajay Kumar took bronze. Sandeep later finished third in the men's 100m T44 event. Haney won gold with a world record throw in the men's javelin throw F37/38 final after bronze in the F37 discus. In para archery, Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi won gold.
He holds the world, continental and Asian Para Games record.
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