New Delhi: As defending the crown is much harder than winning it, Sumit Antil knows he will have his hands full at Paris Paralympics. The reigning Paralympic and World Para champion will look to do what Neeraj Chopra failed at Paris Olympics, that of holding on to his title.
Even though Neeraj finished a second for a creditable silver medal, his thrown was usurped by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who set an Olympic record to win gold.
Like Sumit, Neeraj too was an Olympic and World champion till Nadeem stole his thunder. In F64 category, Sumit is also the world record holder with a throw of 73.29 metres, achieved at the 2022 Para Asian Games.
Like Neeraj, Sumit has also been mighty consistent in his discipline, setting the world record mark thrice in the Tokyo Paralympics on way to the gold metal with a best throw of 68.55 metres. The 26-year-old kept winning, achieving 70.83m at the 2023 Para World Championships.
‘Aim to improve record’
“I will try to improve my previous record,” Sumit has said, on his aim at Paris, drawing confidence from India’s decision to send 84 athletes for its largest contingent.
“There is no pressure right now but things will be known after reaching Paris. Once you reach the Games village or at the competition venue, things become a little different. I will try to do my best without taking pressure.
“I want to enjoy this moment. For the first time, such a large and strong contingent from India is going to the Paralympics and I feel proud to be the flag bearer,” he added.
“My long-term goal is to achieve a distance of 80 meters but in the Paris Paralympics, I will try to win the gold medal with an effort of 75 meters,” Antil had told PTI earlier.
The joint flag-bearer at the Paris Paralympics, Sumit was born in the Sonipat region of Haryana to an Armyman father, who passed away when he was seven. His mother encouraged him to take up sports when he was young as he was raised along side three sisters.
Initially he wanted to become a wrestler and like his dad join the Indian Army but in 2015, at 17 years of age he lost left limb in a motorbike accident.
Shaking off his wrestling dreams, he then turned towards Paralympics, training in Delhi while pursuing B.Com.
In 2019, he began to compete at the national circuit and found instant success internationally, setting the world record at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
Since then he has never looked back, finishing on the podium regularly and setting new world records.
Sumit Antil is the reigning Paralympic and World Para champion in the F64 javelin throw category Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
