Asian Para Games 2023: Neeraj Yadav wins gold medal in men's javelin throw F55 event

Tek Chand clinched the bronze medal in the same event.

Experienced athlete Neeraj Yadav continued his impressive run at the ongoing Asian Para Games 2023 by securing gold medal in men's javelin throw F55 event. By registering a throw 33.69m, Neeraj, went on to break his own Games Record of 29.84m created in the previous edition of Asian Para Games. The other Indian in the fray, Tek Chand, won bronze with a personal best mark of 30.36m.

In the six attempts on offer, Neeraj Yadav, breached the 30m mark with each throw. He started with a throw of 32.18m and achieved the Games Record mark in his third attempt. The 39-year-old had a good battle from Zakar Zafer from Iran who finished second with a best effort throw of 33.58m.

Like the Indian, Zafar too registered six 30m+ throws but fell agonizingly short of the top spot. Tek Chand retained the bronze medal that he won in the 2018 edition of the quadrennial extravaganza. The third Indian in the event, Manihas took centre stage as the last thrower. All eyes was on him on whether he would achieve anything substantial.

However, Manihas couldn't get past the 30m mark in either of his throws and settled for fifth place. After three successive throws, he fouled in his next three attempts. Later in the day, Pooja won bronze in women's 1500m T20 event by recording 5:38.81s. Prior to this, she had also medalled in 400m and finished the campaign with two medals to her kitty.

The rowing contingent won their first and only medal in the ongoing Asian Para Games 2023 as the pair of Anita and Narayana combined to clinch silver in PR3 Mixed Double Sculls event.