Asian Para Games: Sumit Antil creates new world record in Javelin Throw

Sumit Antil continued his world record-breaking spree and created a new world record en route to winning a gold medal in the men's javelin throw F64 event at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, on Wednesday.

Sumit hurled the javelin to a distance of 73.29m to break his previous world record of 70.83m which he created at the Para World Championships earlier this year.

Sumit, who breached the world record thrice at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, also set the new Games record by bettering the previous record of 56.29m set by him in the 2018 Asian Para Games.

Starting with a 66.22m throw, Sumit took the lead with his first throw and bettered his throws in the next two attempts. He threw 70.48m in the second attempt and clinched the gold medal with a massive 73.29m effort in his third throw.

Sumit has already secured his qualification for the Paralympic 2024 in Paris with his gold medal at the Para World Championships in July 2023.

Another Indian in the event, Pushpendra Singh clinched the bronze medal with a throw of 62.06m. Sandeep finished fourth with a 61.84m throw.

F64 classification in Para Sports is for field athletes with moderately affected movement in one or both legs or the absence of limbs. While throwing a shot put, discus, and javelin, these athletes have to adjust for asymmetric balance during the run-up in the javelin and the throwing circle in the shot put and discus.

India has won a total of 36 medals in the Asian Para Games 2023 including ten gold medals.