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Para-athlete Sachin Sarjerao Khilari on Wednesday, September 4 bagged India’s 21st medal at the ongoing Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The 2023 and 2024 world champion continued his dominant run on the world stage as he clinched a silver at the Games with a throw of 16.32m in men’s shot put F64 category. Notably, the Indian finished only behind Canada’s Greg Stewart (16.38m) at Stade de France in Paris, who won the gold medal.
Notably, the world champion also set Asian record with his throw of 16.32m, which came on his second attempt. Khilari previously won the world title in Japan in May with a throw of 16.30m. With this, India’s best-ever medal record now boasts of 21 medals - three gold, eight silver and 10 bronze, with Khilari bringing in the 11th medal in para-athletics.
While Canada secured the gold and India sealed the silver, Croatia’s Luka Bakovic took the bronze with a throw of 16.27m. Apart from Sachin Khilari, Mohd. Yasser and Rohit Kumar of India failed to get on the podium, finishing eighth and ninth with their best throws of 14.21m and 14.10m respectively.
Who is Sachin Sarjerao Khilari?
Sachin Sarjerao Khilari is an Indian para shot putter, who was born in Kargani, Atpadi Taluka in Sangli district of Maharashtra. The Indian athlete, who features in F64 category which is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movements in arms, suffered a bicycle accident, leaving his differently abled.
Following the accident, which led to fracture and gangrene in his left hand, he followed his passion while becoming an engineer. At an early age, he chose javelin throw but was forced to switch to shot put after shoulder injury. Khilari won his first gold in the Jaipur Nationals in 2017and went on to win his first world para title with a new Asian record throw of 16.21m in Paris in 2023. He followed his brilliant run at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games with a throw of 16.03m. However, his most recent achievement came at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kove, Japan, where he defended his gold, setting an Asian record of 16.30m.
