Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist Indian javelin thrower Sumit Antil desires to enhance upon his world file in his bid to defend his title within the Males’s F64 class on the Paris Paralympics Video games.
Sumit, together with Bhagyashree Jadhav (shot put, F34 class) will probably be Indian flag bearer on the opening ceremony of the Paralympics Video games to be held from August 28 to September 8, 2024.
He had set a world file thrice within the Tokyo Paralympics and received the gold medal with one of the best throw of 68.55 metres.
He bettered it with a brand new world file throw of 70.83 meters on the 2023 Para World Championships and additional improved it on the Hangzhou Para Asian Video games (2023) to win the gold with an effort of 73.29 metres.
F64 class offers with issues in Decrease limb/s. Athlete competing with prosthesis affected by limb deficiency and leg size distinction
“My long-term purpose is to realize a distance of 80 meters however within the Paris Paralympics, I’ll attempt to win the gold medal with a effort of 75 meters,” the 26-year-old informed PTI-Bhasha in an unique interview.
The athlete, who misplaced considered one of his limb in a highway accident in 2015, received the gold medal on the Para World Championship in Might this yr with an effort of 69.50 metres.
Sumit stated: “My throws throughout observe have been fairly constant. I’ve labored exhausting on growing power with out altering my method. I’ll attempt to enhance my earlier file.”
When requested in regards to the strain of being defending champion and being the Indian flag bearer, he stated, “There is no such thing as a strain proper now however issues will probably be identified after reaching Paris. When you attain the Video games village or at competitors venue, issues turn into a bit of totally different. I’ll attempt to do my greatest with out taking strain.”
“I need to get pleasure from this second. For the primary time, such a big and robust contingent from India goes to the Paralympics and I really feel proud to be the flag bearer,” he added.
The Indian contingent contains 84 athletes throughout 12 disciplines for the Paralympics .
This Padma Shri awardee stated, “Being a flag bearer in an occasion like Paralympics is a special sort of emotion. That is the primary time I will probably be part of the opening ceremony of the Paralympics.
“On the time of the Tokyo Paralympics, there have been quite a lot of restrictions as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. I reached late there in response to the schedule of my competitors.”
Sumit stated that after the Tokyo Paralympics, he centered extra on training as a substitute of taking part in several competitions.
He stated, “I’ve participated in very restricted competitions. I’ve spent extra time in observe. Competitions maintain occurring however my purpose is to get a medal for India within the Paralympics and my total focus has been on this for the final three years.”
He stated, “I favor to observe in India solely moderately than overseas. I went to Finland in 2018 however I didn’t really feel a lot enchancment there. I observe at SAI (Sports activities Authority of India) Sonipat centre, which is provided with a monitor for Javelin throw and world-class services.”
When Sumit was requested whether or not he too was a bit of upset with Neeraj Chopra’s silver medal within the Olympics, he stated, “Neeraj Bhai carried out very effectively. It might be unsuitable to say that we have been heartbroken by his effort. Rather a lot is dependent upon the day at this degree of competitors. It wasn’t our day in Tokyo. It was Arshad Nadeem’s ( Gold medal winner) day in Paris.”
He stated, “I’m very proud of Neeraj’s efficiency. It’s troublesome to ship your season’s greatest efficiency beneath strain on a stage just like the Olympics. I feel as soon as he crosses the 90m mark, we can have quite a lot of gold medals.”
Sumit stated that he has been part of Goal Olympics Podium Scheme (TOPS) since 2019 and he’s getting every kind of assist from it.
“I’ve been part of the TOPS scheme since 2019 and since that point I’ve been getting prosthetic legs from overseas. Together with my prosthetics, TOPS supplies every part I would like for my sport,” he concluded.