Sumit Antil, the 28-year-old, is one of the biggest gold medal prospects for India at the Para-Asian Games, beginning October 18 in Aichi-Nagoya. The biggest aim for the javelin thrower will be to defend his gold medal, which he won at the previous edition in Hangzhou, where he ended up setting a world record.
Sumit Antil will aim to defend his gold medal at the Para-Asian Games. At the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in China, Antil produced a performance that elevated his standing in the sport, and as a result, the pressure will be on him once he takes to the field this time around.
Competing in the men’s F64 final in October 2023, Antil came up with a throw of 73.29 metres to claim the gold medal. The effort set a world record, along with new Asian and Asian Para Games records, making his victory one of the standout moments of India’s campaign. Antil’s winning throw had come during his third attempt, and the jubilation was all over his face.
Apart from being the Para-Asian Games gold medallist, Antil also took home the biggest prize in the 2020 and 2024 Paralympics, and hence he is the clear-cut favourite this time around as well.
“The focus is always on execution. Of course, as an athlete, I have targets in my mind, but I don’t want to become too focused on a particular number before I compete. A throw is built through many small things — the run-up, rhythm, technique, release and consistency,” the javelin thrower told HT in an interview facilitated by Adidas.
“If I execute those properly, the distance will take care of itself. So my approach is to focus on one throw at a time and give each attempt my complete attention. I try to keep the focus on my own preparation rather than on what people are expecting from me. Expectations are natural when you have performed well in the past, but they cannot be allowed to become a distraction. I know the work I have put in, and I know what I need to do when I step into the competition. For me, the biggest competitio
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