New Delhi: Indian para-athlete Yogesh Kathuniya on Monday secured silver medal in the discus throw F-56 event at the Stade de France. The 27-year-old produced season best performance of 42.22m distance to finish second on the podium.
This was the second successive silver medal for the Haryana-based sportsperson after finishing second at Tokyo as well three years ago. Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos shattered the Paralympic record with a 46.86m massive throw to clinch the gold.
Despite becoming the sixth Indian athlete to win two medals at different editions of the Paralympics, Yogesh Kathuniya feels that he needs to elevate his medal colour after bagging silver in almost every major competiion.
“Event was okay, I got a silver. I will work harder to change the colour of the medal,” Yogesh Kathuniya said after his event, as quoted by news agency PTI.
“For some time, I’m winning silver only be it Tokyo (Paralympics) or today, World Championships or Asian Games.. everywhere I’m winning silver. Gaadi atak gayi hai (I’m stuck on silver). I think I need to work harder. Now I want gold,” he added.
The silver on Monday is Kathuniya’s fifth consecutive second place finish since the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. He wasn’t even close to his throw of 44.38m, which helped him clinch the silver medal.
“Today was not my day, my performance is consistent but today I don’t feel that happy. My family will be happy, they must be celebrating,” the para-athlete said.
Yogesh Kathuniya’s silver run
Yogesh Kathuniya picked up silver medals in successive World Para Championships in 2023 and 2024. He also finished second at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, last year.
The Haryana para athlete developed the Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare autoimmune condition which causes numbness, tingling and muscle weakness that can progress to paralysis. The athletes who compete under F56 category are those affected by amputations or spinal cord injuries. These athletes compete from a seated position.
Despite becoming the sixth Indian athlete to win two medals at different editions of the Paralympics, Yogesh Kathuniya feels that he needs to elevate his medal colour after bagging…… Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
