In a truly electrifying performance at the World Para Athletics Championships held in New Delhi, Rinku Singh clinched a historic gold medal. Just a day after his cricket namesake’s Asia Cup victory, Rinku brought even more glory to India, not only becoming a world champion but also shattering the championship record in front of an enthusiastic, albeit intimate, crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Having previously secured second place in the last two editions, Rinku proved that the third time’s the charm. He delivered a phenomenal 66.37m throw in the F46 javelin category, comfortably surpassing his compatriot and two-time former champion Sundar Singh Gurjar, who earned a silver with 64.36m. This incredible 1-2 finish for India was nearly a clean sweep, as Ajeet Singh, a two-time medalist himself, achieved a season’s best of 61.77m, narrowly missing the podium in fourth place.
The F46 javelin throw event was a highlight, with all eleven competitors achieving either a season’s or personal best – a testament to the high level of competition and India’s strong showing. However, it wasn’t all triumphs for India, as Mahendra Gurjar faced disappointment in the T63 long jump, finishing without a mark due to three fouls.
Beyond India’s javelin heroes, other athletes showcased remarkable talent. Australia’s James Turner continued his reign in the 400m T36 category, securing his fifth medal and fourth gold in 52.18 seconds. Denis Gnezdilov, competing as a Neutral Para Athlete, set a new world record in the F40 shot put with an impressive 11.92m, displacing the reigning champion Miguel Montiero to second. India’s Ravi Rongali also put up a strong fight, finishing sixth with a season’s best of 10.10m. In the women’s events, Poland’s world record holder Faustyna Kotlowska dominated the F64 discus throw with 38.96m, while India’s Dayawanti courageously achieved a new Asian record of 27.94m, securing fourth place.
Event Results Highlights:
Men:
- 400m T36: James Turner (Australia, 52.18s)
- 400m T34: Chaiwat Rattana (Thailand, 48.01s)
- 400m T53: Pongsakorn Paeyo (Thailand, 46.81s)
- Shot Put F53: Bartosz Gorczak (Poland, 8.67m); Ayush Verma (India, 5th, 7.23m)
- Shot Put F40: Denis Gnezdilov (Neutral Para Athlete, 11.92m – new world record); Ravi Rongali (India, 6th, 10.10m)
- Long Jump T63: Joel De Jong (Netherlands, 7.57m); Mahendra Gurjar (India, No Mark)
- Discus Throw F52: Aigar Apinis (Latvia, 19.32m)
- Javelin Throw F46: Rinku (India, 66.37m – new Championship Record); Sundar Singh Gurjar (India, 64.76m); Ajeet Singh (India, 4th, 61.77m)
Women:
- 100m T38: Angie Morales (Colombia, 12.34s)
- 100m T47: Kiara Rodriguez (Ecuador, 11.97s)
- 400m T11: Thalita Da Silva with guide Felipe Da Silva (Brazil, 59.76s)
- 800m T53: Catherine DeBrunner (Switzerland, 1:40.16)
- 800m T54: Lea Bayekula (Belgium, 1:48.91)
- Discus Throw F44: Osiris Aneth Machado (Mexico, 44.36m)
- Discus Throw F64: Faustyna Kotlowska (Poland, 38.96m); Dayawanti (India, 4th, 27.94m – new Asian record)
- Shot Put F20: Sabrina Fortune (Great Britain, 16.75m)
- Long Jump T12: Yokutkhon Kholbekova (Uzbekistan, 5.54m)
- Javelin Throw F34: Lijuan Zou (China, 21.41m)