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India achieved their best-ever performance at the Para World Athletics Championships in Kobe on Wednesday, highlighted by Sachin Sarjerao Khilari’s gold medal in the F46 shot put event.
NEW DELHI: India achieved their best-ever performance at the Para World Athletics Championships in Kobe on Wednesday, highlighted by Sachin Sarjerao Khilari’s gold medal in the F46 shot put event. Khilari set a new Asian record with a throw of 16.30 meters, surpassing his previous record of 16.21 meters from last year.
This gold medal is India’s fifth at the ongoing competition, bringing their total medal count to 12, including 5 golds, 4 silvers, and 3 bronzes. India is currently third in the medal standings, following China with 48 medals and Brazil with 30.
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Khilari’s series of throws were 14.73 meters, 15.69 meters, 15.93 meters, 15.35 meters, and his record-breaking 16.30 meters. Canada’s Greg Stewart won the silver with a throw of 16.14 meters, and Croatia’s Luka Bakovic took bronze with 16.04 meters. Other Indian participants included Mohammed Yasser, who finished eighth with a throw of 14.62 meters, and Rohit Kumar, who fouled out after three attempts.
In addition to Khilari’s gold, Dharambir won a bronze medal in the men’s F51 club throw with a distance of 33.61 meters, setting a new Asian record. The previous record was his own, set in 2022 at the Fazza International Para Athletics Championships in Dubai. The gold medal in this event went to Serbia’s Zeljko Dimitrijevic with a championship record throw of 34.20 meters, and Mexico’s Maria Santana Hernandez took the silver with 33.62 meters.
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Hailing from Karagani village in Maharashtra’s Sangli district, the 34-year-old Khilari overcame a significant disability in his left hand due to a school accident. The F46 category is for athletes with moderate impairments in one or both arms, requiring them to use their hips and legs for power.
Khilari expressed his confidence and satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I was expecting the gold here and I am happy. I have also qualified for the Paris Paralympics and hope to win gold there as well.”
