Sumit Antil successfully defended his Paralympics javelin gold in Paris, though a back injury prevented him from breaking his own world record. Before the event, he received advice from Neeraj Chopra, who told him not to try anything new and to stay focused. Both Sumit and Neeraj had won gold medals in javelin at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and they felt the pressure of defending their titles.
Neeraj couldn't retain his Olympic title but still managed to win silver. Sumit, however, clinched the gold in the F64 category with a throw of 70.59 meters. Although this was less than his world record of 73.29 meters, it was enough to secure victory. Sumit revealed that the pressure in Paris was higher due to his status as the defending champion, and his back injury also affected his performance.
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Sumit has been dealing with a back injury for over a year and said that while in Tokyo he was injury-free, the pain in Paris impacted his technique. He aimed to reach 75 meters but had to settle for the win without breaking his record. Despite the injury, Sumit was far ahead of his competitors, with Sri Lanka's Dulan Kodithuwakku taking silver at 67.03 meters.
Sumit has remained dominant since Tokyo, winning two world championships and a gold at the Para Asian Games in Hangzhou with a world record throw. He admires Neeraj's consistency and high standards, which inspire him to keep improving. Sumit, now 26, looks forward to continuing his successful journey and making India proud alongside Neeraj.
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