Rohan Chowdhury in Paris
Sumit Antil — the name synonymous with India’s para javelin dominance — once again proved his mettle on the grandest stage. In the men’s javelin F64 final, the gold medallist from Tokyo defended his title with a display of unparalleled excellence.
As Antil emerged from the tunnel and stepped onto the field, his unique aura was palpable. The crowd roared in anticipation as he raised his arms, signalling his arrival.
Michal Burian of Australia and Dulan Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka had both cleared 63 metres before Sumit took his first throw. But Antil’s opening effort of 69.11m, though just shy of his season’s best, shattered his own Paralympic record set in Tokyo.
He then outdid himself on his second attempt, crossing the 70m threshold with a new Paralympic record of 70.59m. This throw was more than enough to secure the gold, but the 26-year-old had his sights set on breaking the World Record — a feat he had previously achieved with a throw of 73.29m in Hangzhou.
A noteworthy aspect of the event was the strong representation from India, the only nation with three athletes in the competition.
Sandeep Chaudhary, who finished fourth with a season’s-best throw of 62.80m, gave a commendable effort to contend for bronze, while Sandip Sanjay Sargar secured seventh place with his best attempt of 58.03m.
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With this gold, Antil, who had been the frontrunner for the top spot on the podium, reaffirmed why he is regarded as the best of his era. He competes against himself, constantly striving to surpass his own records. For now, Antil settled for ‘only’ the gold medal, with the world record still within reach at future competitions.
It was clear that Antil was a crowd favorite. Every time he began his run-up, the stadium erupted in support.
His exceptional standards were highlighted when his coach, Arun Kumar, expressed a mixture of pride and a subtle sense of unfulfilled potential. “Yes, winning back-to-back golds in the Paralympics is special, but we were targeting the world record,” he said.
Kumar also explained the challenges posed by the track conditions. “In India, the tracks are synthetic, but here it was a Mondo track, which makes the run-up slightly faster,” he explained. “Since Sumit is a power thrower, a faster run-up can disrupt his momentum.”
Antil appeared in peak physical condition, noticeably leaner than before. He had shed 10-12 kilograms in the past three months. “This was necessary because the extra weight was causing back pain,” said Vipin, the team physiotherapist. “He gave up his favorite sweets and worked hard to achieve a lighter physique.”
Despite being a seasoned competitor, Antil still feels the pressure before a big final. He confessed to having sleepless nights in the lead-up to the event, wandering around the Olympic Village to ease his nerves. “I haven’t slept much for the last three nights,” he admitted. “Tokyo was less stressful because I was relatively unknown. Now, with everyone expecting great things from me, the pressure is much higher.”
Devendra Jhajharia, one of India’s para javelin pioneers and the current president of the Paralympics Committee of India (PCI), played a key role in calming Antil’s nerves the night before the event. “I spoke to Jhajharia sir, and he motivated me, helping me stay calm,” said Antil.
He also had a message for the millions of fans back in India. “I want to thank everyone back home for the overwhelming support over the years,” said Antil. “Keep cheering me on, and I promise the new world record will come soon.”
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