Sumit Antil (born 7 June 1998)[1] is an Indian javelin thrower. He is a double gold medalist at the Paralympics, having won the men's javelin throw F64 event at the 2020 Paralympics and the 2024 Paralympics.[2] He set a new Paralympic record both times with his throws of 68.55 m and 70.59 m. He is a two-time gold medalist at the World Para Championships. In 2022, Antil not only won the gold medal at the Asian Para Games but also made the para-javelin WR of 73.29 m.[3] He is a six-time world record holder.[4]
.jpg) Antil in 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 7 June 1998 Sonipat, Haryana, India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para-athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disability class | F64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Arun Kumar Naval Singh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paralympic finals |  2020 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal bests | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
editFamily
editAntil was born in Khewra, Sonipat, Haryana, to Niramala Devi and Ram Kumar Antil. His father, who was employed in the Indian Air Force, passed away when he was seven. His mother motivated him to take up sports after his accident. He has three sisters, Kiran, Sushila & Renu.[1] He was born in Antil clan, a sub-clan of Tomar Jats.[5]
Accident
editHe wanted to pursue a career in wrestling and join the Indian Army.[6][7] In 2015, when he was 17, his motorbike was hit by a speeding truck while he was returning home from a tuition class. As a result, his left leg was amputated and he had to abandon his dream of becoming a wrestler.[8]
Education and athletics
editAfter completing his secondary education at Dev Rishi Senior Secondary School, Sonipat, he was introduced to para-athletics by another para-athlete, Rajkumar, while he was pursuing his B.Com from Ramjas College of Delhi University.[9]
Career
editIn 2017, Antil started training under Nitin Jaiswal in Delhi, and competed in various National and International platforms. He began competing at javelin on the National circuit and GoSports inducted him into the Para Champions Programme in 2019.[10]
In 2019, at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Italy, he broke the world record in the F64 category en route to winning the Silver medal in the Combined Event. He then won the Silver medal at World Para Athletics Championships, Dubai, 2019 and in the process broke his own world record in the F64 category.[11][12]
On 30 August 2021, Antil won a gold medal with a World Record throw of 68.55m in javelin throw F64 at 2020 Summer Paralympics.[13] Competing in the Indian Open National Para Athletics Championships, Antil rewrote the world record for the fourth time in a year with a throw of 68.62 meters, breaking his own mark of 68.55 meters. Three of these marks were astonishingly set during the final of the Tokyo paralympics en route to winning gold. On 2 September 2024, Antil won the gold medal again with the new Paralympic Record throw of 70.59m in Javelin throw F64 at 2024 Summer Paralympics.[14]
Awards
edit- 2021 – Khel Ratna Award, highest sporting honour of India.[15]
- 2022 – Padma Shri Award, fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
- 2024 - Sportstar Aces Awards 2024: Sportsman of the Year (parasports).[16][17]
- 2024 - Forbes India 30 Under 30 2024.[18]
- 2024: Para Athlete of the Year Male Indian Sports Honours
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Tandon, Mukesh (31 August 2021). "Sumit Antil's village in Sonepat erupts with joy". www.tribuneindia.com. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Athletics - Men's Javelin Throw - F64 Schedule | Tokyo 2020 Paralympics". Olympics.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ "Sumit Antil wins gold with record breaking throw".
- ^ "India at Paris Paralympics 2024: Sumit Antil defends gold medal in style, shatters Paralympic Games record twice". ESPN. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "नाराजगी: सोनीपत में ओलंपियन सुमित के सम्मान समारोह से आंतिल खाप का किनारा, कहा- ये तो भाजपा का कार्यक्रम है". Amar Ujala (in Hindi). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ "Javelin throwers lead athletics medal rush, Sumit wins gold with smashing world record show". Outlook. Press Trust of India. 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021.
- ^ Vatchittagong. "Sumit Antil Paralympics 2021: Tokyo Olympic Gold Winner". Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ Cyriac, Biju Babu (26 March 2021). "Sumit Antil betters javelin world record at National Para Athletics Championships". The Times of India. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ Scroll Staff. "Tokyo Paralympics: Meet Sumit Antil, wrestler-turned-javelin thrower who never gave up on his dreams". Scroll.in. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "Paris Paralympics: How World No 1 Para Javelin Star Sumit Antil Broke Records After Losing a Leg".
- ^ "Watch: Sandeep, Sumit bag javelin gold, silver with world record throws at Para Athletics Worlds". Scroll.in. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ PTI. "World Para Athletics C'ships: Sandeep, Sumit create world records". Sportstar. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ Express, India (30 August 2021). "Tokyo Paralympics: Sumit Antil wins gold, breaks world record thrice". TheIndianExpress. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ "Javelin ace Sumit Antil becomes first Indian man to defend title at Paralympics; wins gold medal with record throw at Paris 2024".
- ^ "National Sports Awards 2021: Neeraj Chopra, Lovlina Borgohain, Mithali Raj Among 9 Others to Get Khel Ratna". News18. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ Sportstar, Team (8 February 2024). "Sportstar Aces Awards 2024: Sumit Antil wins Sportsman of the Year (Parasports) award". Sportstar. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Sumit Antil, Sheetal Devi win best male and female athlete at 1st Differently Abled Sports Awards". The Times of India. 26 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "Forbes India 30 Under 30 2024: Meet our young disruptors and trailblazers". Forbes India. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
