Sumit Antil betters his own world record at World Para Athletics Championships 2023

The Paralympian has broken the world record for second time this year.

Tokyo Paralympics 2020 gold medallist Sumit Antil shattered his own World Record in Javelin by spearing his javelin to a distance of 70.83m in T64 category at the World Para Athletics Championships 2023 held in Dubai.

He broke his own world record that he created previously this year at the fifth Indian Open Para Athletics International Championships in Bengaluru. He had then recorded a best throw of 70.17m in the meet and in the process booked a direct slot for the World Para Athletics Championships 2023.

In 2021, Sumit Antil won gold medal in the men’s javelin F64/44 final with a best throw of 68.55m at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. En-route to the gold medal winning run, he broke the world record thrice.

His first major success came in 2019, at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Italy where he broke the world record in the F64 category, winning the silver medal in the combined event. Later in the year, the 25-year-old again broke his own world record in the F64 category and in the process bagged the silver medal at World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

A year before in 2018, Sumit could finish only in the fifth spot at the Asian Games but since has shown tremendous improvements and is a sure bet for India in retaining the gold medal at the Paris Paralympics.

The athlete from Haryana has also competed in a few Grand Prix events alongside abled body athletes. In 2021, before the Tokyo Paralympics, he recorded 66.43m at IGP Patiala which boosted his confidence ahead of the Paralympics.

For his achievements in the sport, he was honoured with major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award in 2021 and in the following year with India's fourth highest civilian award - Padma Shri.