Antil, the gold standard
And before it could sink in, she was screaming again, “He has broken it again.” Malik was talking about Sumit Antil, who broke his own world record in javelin throw (F64) three times in 45 minutes to win gold at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
Last year, he set a new world record with a 73.29m throw to win gold at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. Antil now aims to repeat the ‘world record-gold medal’ double at the Paris Paraplympics. Expectations will be high when enters the Stade de France tonight for the final. “He is going for gold. And perhaps with a world record throw,” said Satyanarayana Shimoga, head coach of the Indian track and field team.
“Antil is like Neeraj,” PCI president Devendra Jhajharia said. “Look at his consistency. He is one of t h o s e athletes who can handle pressure. I expect gold from him.” Yogesh Kathuniya, who competes in seated javelin and is a podium contender, looks upt to Antil for inspiration.
“With Sumit, you know he will make history. He gives you unforgettable memories. In Tokyo, we won medals on the same day. Hope we do the same here as well,” said Kathunia, who has his qualification round earlier in the day today.
Antil has matured as an athlete over the years but hasn’t forgotten his roots. “I will always remember the `7 lakh that I was given as loan to buy the prosthetic leg. I did not have the money then and it was a decisive moment in my career,” Antil had told this writer. Thereafter, he received funding to train in Finland and Tunisia and even trained with Neeraj Chopra
