Sumit set a new Paralympic record of 70.59 m in the men’s javelin throw and made history by defending the title with a gold medal
3 students of the Lovely Professional University (LPU) had brought pride and glory to the university by winning 1 gold and 2 silver medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Sumit Antil, an MBA student, etched his name in sports history by clinching the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F64 category, while Yogesh Kathuniya (MA) excelled in the men’s discus throw F56 and Nishad Kumar (MA) in high jump T47, both won the silver medal.
Sumit’s remarkable feat of setting a new Paralympic record of 70.59m not only secured his victory but also established him as the first Indian man to defend his title with a gold medal, following his triumph at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. His outstanding performance surpassed the previous Paralympic record, which he himself had set. He is a two-time gold medal winner in the world championships in Paris and Kobe, Japan. He also holds the world record of 73.29 in the F64 class.
Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and founder Chancellor of LPU, said after the great success of the Olympics, medals in the Paralympics are a proud moment for the country and university. Dr. Mittal lauded Paralympics players’ commitment to overcoming challenges and achieving greatness on the global stage, serving as inspirations to aspiring athletes nationwide. He extended his warm wishes to all victorious and encouraged all the other players to continue striving for excellence in future competitions.
Yogesh Kathuniya (MA) in the men’s discus throw F56 event gave his best with the 42.22 m throw and Nishad Kumar (MA) with 2.04 m in high jump T47. Both players are the silver medallists of the Paralympics 2020 and 2024. Nishad secured a silver medal and set a new Asian record with a remarkable jump of 2.06 meters in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020. He also won 2 silvers in the World Para Athletics Championships 2023 in Paris, France, and 2024 in Kobe, Japan. Yogesh also won the silver in the category Discus Throw F56 at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, France, and 2024 in Kobe, Japan.
Sumit Antil began with a new Paralympic record of 69.11m in his first attempt, which eclipsed his own previous record of 68.55m. Then he bettered it with the eventual winner of 70.59 m, making it yet another record. LPU 24 students also participated in the Paris Olympics and won medals in the hockey and javelin throw.
