Paralympics 2020: A Memorable day for India as Avani Lekhara and Sumit bags gold; 3 other athletic medals

A Historic Day for the Indian contingent at Tokyo Paralympics 2020 as India clinched five medals on Monday. India’s paralympic shooter Avani Lekhara started the day by winning gold in the women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya bagged silver. Devendra Jhajharia once again made India proud by bagging a silver medal. While Sundar Singh Gurjar won bronze in the Javelin Throw F46 category. Sumit Antil won India’s second gold in the Tokyo Paralympics and the first in athletics. This is India’s best performance at the Paralympics games – seven medals so far. The previous best was four medals at Rio Paralympics.

Avani Lekhara became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal

The 19-year-old, Avani Lekhara won the gold medal with a total score of 249.6 in the final, equalling the world record. China’s Cuiping Zhang clinched silver while Iryna Shchetnik from Ukraine won the bronze medal. Earlier in the qualification round, Lekhara finished 7th with a total score of 621.7.

Avani Lekhara scripted history becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the Paralympics. Overall, she is the fourth Indian athlete to win a Paralympics gold after swimmer Murlikant Petkar (1972), javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia (2004 and 2016), and high jumper Thangavelu Mariyappan (2016). Another Indian, Swaroop Mahavir Unhalkar finished fourth in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 Final, with a score of 203.9.

Yogesh Kathuniya wins silver medal in discus throw F56

India’s Yogesh Kathuniya clinched a silver medal in the men’s discus throw F56 event. Yogesh Kathuniya recorded his season-best attempt of 44.38 in his sixth and final attempt to finish at the 2nd spot. Claudiney Batista clinched the gold medal with the best throw of 45.59m. Cuba’s Diaz Aldana (43.36m) took the bronze medal in the men’s discus throw F56 event.

Devendra Jhajharia and Sundar Singh won silver and bronze medals in F46 javelin throw

India’s only double gold medallist in the Paralympic Games, Devendra Jhajharia won the silver medal in Javelin Throw – F46 Final. Jhajharia recorded his personal best throw of 64.35m. India’s Sundar Singh Gurjar won the bronze medal with a throw of 64.01m. Sri Lanka’s Herath Mudiyans won gold and created a new world record in the F46 category with a personal best throw of 67.79m.

Sumit Antil wins gold in Javelin throw, breaks world record thrice

Indian para javelin thrower Sumit Antil clinched India’s second gold in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. Sumit won the gold in the men’s javelin F64 event with a world record throw of 68.55 metres. Sumit dominated the final and smashed the world record thrice. Australia’s Michal Burian took the silver medal, with the best attempt of 66.29m. Sri Lanka’s Dulan Kodithuwakku bagged the bronze medal. The 23-year-old has won a silver in the F64 javelin throw at the 2019 World Championships in Dubai.

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