Sharmistha Gooptu in Paris
I had reached early for the men’s javelin throw F64 final tipped to be gold loading for India, with Sumit Antil, Sandeep and Sandip Sargar in contention. The atmosphere went from expectant to electric, as people started pouring in and the presenters whipped up the mood. I got my cappuccino and settled down.
The audience is nothing short of super pumped up, swaying, laughing and dancing. The main presenter in the field tells the audience to dance it up if they see themselves on the big screen and I get into the groove along with the rest. I don’t appear on the screen but that doesn’t dampen me one bit. Phryge the mascot keeps us entertained, though he’s a bit far for me to give him a hug!
I was in my one of the hospitality boxes at the other end from where the athletes would be throwing their javelins. So I was well placed to watch the flight of the spear. Sumit throws 69.11 in his first attempt setting a Paralympic record!
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The athletics arena is like a Roman arena or amphitheatre. We’re having the 100m men’s final, the women’s discus, men’s long jump T36 and women’s 100m T11 even as Sumit goes on to throw 70.59 in his next. He’s on fire, as a colleague messages. The javelin event is underway and Sumit is still at the top and quite owning that position as the fight seems to be on for the silver and bronze. There is so much happening and it’s sometimes too much to keep your eye only on the javelins.
Now, the men’s 100m T 63 sprinters come in to take their field. Right below me, the sand is being levelled out after the last long jump. And then another contestant sprints and takes his plunge in the long jump. The music rises to a dramatic pitch as the men’s 100m starts and ends in a photo finish.
Eyes again on the javelins. Sandip Sargar just had his throw. Sumit is still at the top. Now eyes on the Sri Lankan, he’s displaced the Australian to the third position and is second after Sumit.
We’re almost at the end of the second round of the javelin and the music turns into a thumping beat. Sumit on his third. Everybody’s cheering for him. They know I imagine, that nobody’s come very close to him. It’s a proud moment to watch him on the giant screen and then he runs to where the coach and the support team are, and take hold of the Tricolour to wrap it around himself. The music is blasting ‘Maine pee rakhi hain’ from a recent Bolly blockbuster to mark the celebration, the DJ’s choice for Indian triumph!! Probably translated as raising a toast to the victor.
As I start to step out of my hospitality box because I need to hurry out of the stadium and join the LIVE, I cannot help but stop for a few minutes. The medal ceremony is on for the discus throw F56, with Yogesh Kathuniya receiving the silver. The big screen is owned by us again, and I walk out with the gleam of metal in my eyes.