 "Sumit Antil: The aspiring wrestler who became a para-javelin star after a life-changing incident")
Sumit Antil was among the key medal hopes heading into the Paris Olymipcs. The para-javelin star was among the five gold medallists in the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago and had been bossing events all over the world since then.
Not only did Antil win winning back-to-back gold medals in the World Championships, in Paris last year and in Kobe this year, he had also won gold in the Asian Para-Games in Hangzhou last year, in which he smashed the world record in the F64 category while winning the title.
Paris Paralympics 2024: News | Medal Tally | India Schedule
He would collect another record to his name on Monday , this time rewriting the Paralympic record not once but twice en route to retaining the title in dominant fashion.
Antil, who was India’s male flag-bearer in the opening ceremony on Wednesday, broke the record in his very first attempt that measured 69.11m.
He would go one better in his next throw (70.59m) to become the first para-athlete to breach the 70-metre mark in the F64 event in the Paralympics.
Sumit Antil gets better and better with every throw 💥🚀#ParalympicGamesParis2024 #ParalympicsOnJioCinema #JioCinemaSports #Paris2024 #JavelinThrow pic.twitter.com/Pz0S3mJ4JC
— JioHotstar Reality (@HotstarReality) September 2, 2024
At just 26 years of age, with multiple gold medals in both the Paralympics as well as the World Championships, Antil has already established himself as one of India’s greatest Paralympians of all time, if not the greatest.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAnd he still might have another Paralympic appearance or two left in him going ahead.
Who is Sumit Antil?
Antil hails from Sonipat in Haryana, a state that has a long history of producing world-class athletes in wrestling, athletics and several other disciplines. He was born into a middle-class family, his father a Junior Warrant Officer in the Indian Air Force.
Antil developed a passion for sports at an early age, although it was wrestling and not javelin throw or athletics that caught his attention back then. Antil, in fact, idolised 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Yogeshwar Dutt and wanted to become a wrestler just like him.
Antil met with an accident on his way back from a tuition class on 5 January 2015. He was promptly taken to the Air Force Hospital, where the doctors had no choice but to amputate his left leg below the knee.
“A tractor hit me from behind. I slipped on the road and then the tractor driver failed to apply the brakes on time and ran over my left leg,” Antil had told The Times of India, opening up on his accident.
He would start wearing a prosthetic leg on his left lower limb after the life-changing incident that brought his dreams of becoming a wrestler to a halt.
Initially struggling to adjust, he found a new purpose after meeting Rajkumar, a para-athlete from his village, who introduced him to Para Games. Despite enduring severe pain and numerous hardships, Sumit persisted, supported by his family and friends, and committed to daily self-improvement.
Sumit Antil’s resilience and dedication led him to break his own world records four times, culminating in a record-breaking throw of 73.29m at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
This remarkable achievement stands as the longest throw in para-athletics across all categories. Since his breakthrough performance at the Tokyo Games, Sumit has emerged as a prominent figure in Indian Paralympic sports, inspiring many with his extraordinary accomplishments and unbeatable spirit.
What are Sumit Antil’s achievements?
— Paralympic Games (2020) – Gold Medal (WR)
— Asian Para Games (2022) – Gold Medal (WR)
— World Para Athletics Championship (2024)– Gold Medal
— World Para Athletics Championship (2023)– Gold Medal (WR)
Government support
— 4 Foreign Exposures in France, China, Japan
— Financial Assistance for Training & Competition
— Continuous training facility including boarding & lodging at SAI Sonipat
— Financial Assistance towards procurement of Javelin & Prosthesis
— Financial Assistance extended towards expert service of coach
— Out of Pocket Allowance under TOPS
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