Praveen Kumar wins Gold in Men's High Jump at Paralympics; India’s Medal count reaches 26

Praveen Kumar won the gold medal in the men's high jump at the Paris Paralympics, bringing India's medal tally to 26. Kumar, who previously won silver in Tokyo, achieved a top jump of 2.08 meters in the T64 final, setting a new area record.

Parveen Kumar life story

The 21-year-old from Noida, born with a shorter leg, started his competition at 1.89 meters and cleared it on his first attempt. He continued to excel, securing his position as the top jumper in the six-jumper field. The event's second-place finisher was Derek Loccident from the USA, who jumped 2.06 meters, while Temurbek Giyazov from Uzbekistan took third with a personal best of 2.03 meters.

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Kumar’s performance at the Paris Paralympics was his personal best and surpassed his previous silver medal effort from the Tokyo Games. The T64 category is for athletes with moderate movement issues in one lower leg or the absence of one or both legs below the knee, while Kumar competes in the T44 category for athletes with moderate movement issues in one lower leg.

Although Kumar and Loccident both attempted the 2.10-meter mark, neither cleared it. Kumar’s gold medal win is a significant achievement, reflecting his dedication and skill in the high jump event.