India’s Navdeep won the silver medal by finishing second in the men’s javelin throw final (F41) of the Paris Paralympics on Saturday, while visually impaired Indian sprinter Simran won the bronze medal in the women’s 200m (T12) event at the Paralympic Games. Reigning world champion Simran finished third on the podium with a personal best time of 24.75 seconds. The T12 classification at the Paralympics is for visually impaired athletes. Navdeep had equaled the Paralympic record with a throw of 47.32 meters in his third attempt. But Iran’s Bet Sadegh took the Paralympic record by throwing 47.64 meters. He finished fourth in the men’s javelin throw F41 category at the 2020 Paralympics.
Twenty-four-year-old Simran was born prematurely. She spent 10 weeks in an incubator where she was diagnosed with visual impairment. The Indian, who became world champion in Kobe, Japan this year, has faced many challenges throughout her life, including her father’s chronic illness and eventual demise. She had earlier finished fourth in the 100m event.
Athlete Navdeep, who quit wrestling after suffering a back injury and took up javelin throw, started the final with a foul. Although his throw crossed 45 meters, he could not keep his body inside the line after throwing and his throw was considered illegal. The 23-year-old para-athlete from Haryana threw a personal best of 46.39 meters in his second attempt, taking him to second place. But it was his third throw that thrilled the stadium. Navdeep broke the Paralympic record with a throw of 47.32 meters and took the lead.
However, Iran’s Beit Sayah Sadegh won the gold medal by breaking Navdeep’s Paralympic record with a throw of 47.64 meters in his fifth attempt and setting a new record. With the medals of Navdeep and Simran, India’s total medals have reached 29, which include 6 gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze medals. With this, India also recorded its best performance in one phase of the Paralympic Games and it is expected to be even better.
