Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia on 13 September 2016 became the first Indian to clinch two gold medals at the Paralympics. He broke his own world record to clinch the medals at the Rio Games. Jhajharia, who won his previous gold in the 2004 Athens Games, bettered his own world record to finish on top in the men’s F46 event. Jhajharia’s previous best was 62.15 metres, which he had
achieved in the 2004 Games. In the 2016 Rio Paralympics, he improved the mark with an attempt of 63.97 metres.
World No. 1 Chunliang Guo from China won the silver medal in the event. Sri Lanka’s Herath Priyantha grabbed the bronze.
India now has two gold, one silver and one bronze in the ongoing edition of the Paralympics Games.
Thangavelu Mariyappan had earlier struck gold in the men’s high jump, while Varun Bhati had secured a bronze in the same event. Later, Deepa Malik clinched a silver medal in the women’s shot put event to add to the tally.
About Devendra Jhajharia
• Born on 10 June 1981, Devendra Jhajharia is an Indian Paralympic javelin thrower competing in F46 events.
• The first Indian Paralympian to win two gold medals at the Paralympics.
• He won his first gold in the javelin throw at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, becoming only the second gold medalist at the Paralympics for India.
• He is currently being supported by the GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme.
No comments:
Post a Comment