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Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, the world champion in men's shot put F46, secured a silver medal at the Paris Paralympic Games on Wednesday, setting an Asian record in the process. Khilari's throw of 16.32m, achieved in his second attempt, surpassed his own Asian record of 16.30m set while winning gold at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Japan in May. However, his impressive performance was not enough to claim the top spot as Greg Stewart of Canada, defending his Tokyo Paralympics gold, threw 16.38m. Luka Bakovic of Croatia took bronze with 16.27m.
Despite narrowly missing out on gold, Khilari's silver medal is India's 11th medal in para-athletics at the ongoing Games, bringing the country's overall medal count to 21, including three gold medals. The tables were turned at Stade de France on Wednesday, as Stewart, who had finished second to Khilari in the World Para-Athletics Championships in Kobe in May, emerged victorious. The F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power, or impaired passive range of movement in arms, competing in a standing position.
Khilari, who holds a mechanical engineering degree and has an impaired left hand, expressed his disappointment at not winning gold. "I had wanted to win the gold medal, but it did not happen. It's my best distance but I am not satisfied. I feel I could have done better. It was not my day," he said. However, he acknowledged Stewart's strength and accepted his defeat gracefully, adding, "It was a tough competition and Greg Stewart is a great player. I made small mistakes in my technique. I will work harder and I hope to beat him next time."
The Indian para-athletes had a successful day on Tuesday as well, winning silver and bronze in both men's high jump T63 and javelin throw F46. Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu secured silver and bronze respectively in the men's high jump T63, while Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar took the second and third spots in the javelin throw F46 final. Deepthi Jeevanji's bronze in the women's 400m T20 category rounded off a strong performance for Indian para-athletes.
Khilari, hailing from Karagani village in Maharashtra's Sangli district, was introduced to para sports in 2015 and has been a consistent performer since then. He met with an accident during his school days, resulting in gangrene of the skin on his elbow and muscle atrophy. Despite undergoing several surgeries, his arm never fully recovered. This setback, along with the loss of his mother at a young age, did not deter Khilari from pursuing his passion for sports. He initially took up javelin while studying engineering, but a shoulder injury forced him to switch to shot put.
With the support of his coach Satayanarayana, Khilari has honed his skills and achieved remarkable success. He also works as a visiting faculty member at various institutions, assisting students in their UPSC and Maharashtra Public Service examination preparations. The previous best performance by India's track and field contingent in a single Paralympics was in Tokyo, where they won one gold, five silver, and two bronze medals. With 11 medals, including a gold from star javelin thrower Sumit Antil, the para athletes have secured more than half of the country's total medals.
However, the number of gold medals is expected to be lower than what officials had hoped for this time. Despite this, the Indian para-athletes have showcased their determination and resilience on the world stage. Khilari's silver medal is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and he will undoubtedly continue to inspire aspiring athletes in the future.
Source: Paris Paralympic: World Champion Sachin Khilari wins silver in shot put (F46)