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Asian Para Games: Sumit Antil wins javelin gold, breaks own world record

Antil had won gold in the men's javelin F64 event at the Tokyo Paralympic Games

(File) Sumit Antil had won gold in the men's javelin throw F64 category at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics | PTI

Reigning Paralympics champion Sumit Antil on Wednesday clinched a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games javelin throw F64 event with a world record effort of 73.29m.

The 25-year-old broke his own previous world record of 70.83m which he had thrown while winning gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris earlier this year.

Another Indian, Pushpendra Singh won the bronze medal with a throw of 62.06m.

Samitha Arachchige Kodithuwakku of Sri Lanka took the silver with a throw of 64.09m.

Antil had won gold in the men's javelin F64 event at the Tokyo Paralympic Games with a then world record throw of 68.55m.

This was India's 10th gold at the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Para Games with the total medal count swelling to 36.

Meanwhile, Prachi Yadav yesterday became the first Indian to win a para canoe gold in the Asian Para Games.

India won 17 medals on Tuesday, including three gold, taking the total tally to 34 in the first two days of competition.

India ended Day 2 placed fifth in the standings, one spot down from Monday, with nine gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze, behind China (165: 66 gold, 53 silver, 46 bronze), Iran (47), Japan (45) and Uzbekistan (38).

Prachi, who had won a silver in canoe VL2 category on Monday, bagged her second medal of the Games as she picked up a gold in KL2 event.

Deepthi Jeevanji (women's T20 400m) and Neeraj Yadav (men's F54/55/56 discus throw) were the other gold medal winners on Tuesday.

Sharath Shankarappa Makanahalli won the men's T13 5000m event and his gold was initially counted and included in India's medal tally.

But the number of India's gold medals was reduced to nine as there were only two competitors in the event.

Under the Asian Paralympics Committee rulebook, it is up to the technical delegate to award medals in cases where there are fewer than three competitors.