Sumit Antil retains Asian Para Games javelin gold in Indian medal sweep

Star Indian para javelin thrower Sumit Antil led the country's medal sweep in the men's F42-44/61-64 combined event at the Asian Para Games as he successfully defended his gold here on Friday.

The 28-year-old Antil, a two-time Paralympics gold winner and world record holder, sent his spear to a distance of 72.46m in his second attempt to win the gold.

He had won the 2023 Asian Para Games gold with the then world record of 73.29m. He later bettered it to 74.82m in May this year.

On Friday, he could not break the record but was in a league of his own while competing in the F64 classification.

Mahendra Gurjar (59.03m), who competes in F42, won silver while Sandip Sanjay Sargar (64.48m), who competed in F44, took the bronze.

Gurjar was placed ahead of Sargar because of his higher RAZA points score, which is used in deciding the rankings in combined events.

In field events such as discus or javelin throw, the classes F42, F44, F62, and F64 are regularly combined into a single competitive event to ensure large and more competitive field.

F42 and F44 are for athletes with lower-limb deficiencies (such as differences in leg length or muscle power) where the athlete does not use a throwing/running prosthesis.

F62 and F64 are for athletes with lower-limb deficiencies where the athlete does compete standing up while wearing a prosthetic device or devices.

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