Sumit Antil: Aim to win gold with a new world record at Paris Paralympics 2024

Tokyo Paralympics gold medallist Indian javelin thrower Sumit Antil wants to improve his world record and defend his title in the men’s F64 category at the Paris Paralympics Games.

Sumit, along with Bhagyashri Jadhav (shot put, F34 category), will be India’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the Paralympics Games to be held from August 28 to September 8, 2024.

He had set a world record thrice in the Tokyo Paralympics and won the gold medal with the best throw of 68.55 metres.

He bettered it with a new world record throw of 70.83 meters at the 2023 Para World Championships and further improved it at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games (2023) to win the gold with an effort of 73.29 metres.

F64 category is for athletes with problems in the lower limb(s), those competing with prosthesis or those affected by leg length difference.

“My long-term goal is to achieve a distance of 80 meters, but in the Paris Paralympics, I will try to win the gold medal with an effort of 75 meters,” the 26-year-old told PTI-Bhasha in an exclusive interview.

The athlete, who lost one limb in a road accident in 2015, won the gold medal at the Para World Championship in May this year, with an effort of 69.50 metres.

Sumit said, “My throws during practice have been quite consistent. I have worked hard on increasing strength without changing my technique. I will try to improve my previous record.”