New Delhi: India continued its golden streak in javelin at the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday, delivering another impressive 1-2 finish.
On Monday, Rinku and Sundar Singh Gurjar claimed gold and silver in the F46 category. Following in their footsteps, Sandip Sanjay Sargar and Sandeep Chaudhary replicated the feat in the F44 category on Tuesday. Sargar admitted that the duo’s performance was on his mind and revealed he had attended the previous day to witness their success firsthand.
“I was here yesterday to get a feel of the atmosphere—the cheers, the energy. That helped me today,” the Maharashtra athlete said after clinching gold, as quoted by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
Sargar threw a personal best of 62.82m on his fifth attempt, though he had already secured the lead with a throw of 62.68m. Rajasthan’s Sandeep Chaudhary kept the crowd on edge with an opening throw of 62.33m, later improving to 62.67m, but Sargar proved unbeatable that evening.
The afternoon’s heavy rain and cooler temperatures affected Sargar’s performance. “Rain and cool weather didn’t help me. I could have done so much better because warm weather helps me loosen up,” said Sargar, a TOPS Core athlete who trains at SAI Sonepat.
Draped in the tricolor, Sargar appeared modest yet confident. “I was sure I would get a medal. Winning it for your country is a great feeling,” he added.
The cooler conditions, however, worked in Sandeep’s favor. The gold medallist in the Dubai and Kobe World Championships in 2019 and 2024 (F64), said, “I trained in Bengaluru, where the weather is similar. I would say it was fate. I am very happy to win a medal for the country.”
Sargar’s gold marked India’s third in the event, with Sumit soon after securing the fourth in the F64 category, according to the PCI press release.
On Monday, Rinku’s family and friends had traveled three hours from their village in Rohtak to cheer him on, a support Sargar lacked. “There was no one in the stands—no family or friends—but I was motivated to do well,” said the humble athlete, who once worked as a Zomato delivery boy in Pune.
