Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, on Tuesday, won the Gold medal for the men’s javelin throw F46 event in the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
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According to NDTV, Devendra bettered his own world record with a throw of 63.97 metres in the final to become the first Indian to win two Paralympic gold medals. In between, he won a gold (2013) and silver (2015) at the World Championships with record throws and a silver at the Incheon Asiad.
Jhajharia himself felt that he could have touched the 67m mark.
Devendra Jhajharia, who is from Rajasthan, was not born with the ailment that has seen him rocket to the gold medals at world events. This time, he improved his previous record by more than a meter. Devendra is the only Paralympics athlete to be awarded the Arjuna award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2012. “Sorry we can’t let you play with us” – I was told on many occasions”.
China’s world champion Chunliang Guo took silver with his fifth round effort of 59.93m and Sri Lankan DP Herath Mudiyanselage (58.23m) clinched bronze. “I know my place so I don’t complain about disparity”, he said. “My mother on the other hand took care of all the chores so that I could pursue my sport with single-minded dedication”.
In India’s overall history of Olympics, Devendra is only the second athlete to win two individual medals at the highest level after wrestler Sushil Kumar. The fact that the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) remained unrecognised due to mismanagement for a long time didn’t help.
“The Ministry had funded my preparations in India and Ukraine through their Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). I congratulate you and wish the very best for the future”, he added.
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India has now increased its medal tally to four at the Rio Paralympics.
