Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav Cheer as Sumit Antil Makes History at World Para Athletics Championships
New Delhi: The world of javelin came together in a spectacular show of talent and support as Olympic and World Championship gold medalist Neeraj Chopra and rising star Sachin Yadav cheered on para javelin athletes at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi on Tuesday. The spotlight shone brightest on two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil, who made history by setting a new championship record en route to winning gold.
Sumit Antil and Sandip Singh Sargar created a memorable evening for India, claiming gold medals in the F64 and F44 Javelin Throw finals, respectively, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Antil, chasing the championship record, recorded three throws beyond 65 meters in his first four attempts. He finally cemented his victory with a record-breaking 71.37m throw on his fifth attempt.
After the win, Sumit admitted that he had hoped for an even better performance, citing pain in his hand and neck. “The hope was for a little better, but my hand did not support me, and there was a lot of pain going up to the neck area. I used painkillers and sprays and tried my best. But I got the record, and that feels great,” he said.
Sumit revealed that he is already looking ahead to the next Asian Para Games. “I plan to start my season next February. I’m taking a short 15-20 day break and will return to training after that,” he added.
The champion also expressed his joy at seeing Neeraj Chopra in the stands. “This is the generosity of my bhai. I found out he was here in the middle of my match, and it made me really happy. The inspiration of all India came to cheer for us,” he said.
Reflecting on Neeraj’s eighth-place finish at the recent World Championships in Tokyo, Sumit empathized with the challenges of competing with injuries. “I hope his back is okay. He was a champion and will always be a champion to us,” he said.
Neeraj, in turn, praised the achievements of Indian athletes. “Special thanks to Devendra Ji (PCI chief Devendra Jhajaria) and everyone working hard here. It was amazing to see Sumit set a championship record and Rinku win gold, giving us two gold medals,” he said. He encouraged fans to attend in large numbers to support Indian para-athletes, emphasizing the motivational impact of witnessing their efforts live.
Highlighting the roots of India’s javelin revolution, Neeraj credited Paralympic champion Devendra Jhajaria, who won gold in 2004 and 2016, before the Olympics showcased talents like Sumit, Sandip, Rinku, and Sundar. “There are so many athletes making India proud. Navdeep also won gold in 2024. It’s encouraging to see our efforts in athletics paying off,” he said.
Sachin Yadav, who finished fourth in Tokyo with a best throw of 86.27m, said he was at the event to support Sumit and improve his own performance. “I will try to perform well and win a medal. I’ve worked on my fitness and technique to throw better,” he said.
In the men’s F44 Javelin Throw, Sandip Singh Sargar led India to a 1-2 finish. Sargar, winning his first international medal, recorded a season-best throw of 62.82m, narrowly surpassing teammate Sandeep Chaudhary, who threw 62.67m. Brazil’s Edenilson Roberto claimed bronze with a F42 world record of 62.36m.
“This is my first international medal, and I am really proud,” said Sargar. “I’ve trained for 10 years, and now my focus is on the Asian Para Games. The home crowd support really motivated me for my best throw.”
Silver medalist Sandeep Chaudhary credited his coach, Asian Games gold medalist Seema Punia, as an inspiration. “She motivates me even after finishing fourth in three successive Paralympics. If she can achieve so much at 42, I have time to improve. I will continue to practice, and results will follow,” he said, adding that his goal is to surpass his personal best next.
India’s medal tally now stands at seven, including three golds, three silvers, and one bronze.
