Sachin Sarjerao Khilari successfully defended his gold medal in the men's shot put F46 category with an Asian record at the World Para Athletics Championship. This achievement helped India surpass its previous best medal tally at the global competition, securing a total of 11 medals, including five gold. The previous record was 10 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze) in the 2023 edition in Paris.
Sachin set a new Asian record by throwing the shot put 16.30 meters, surpassing his previous record of 16.21 meters set at last year's championship in Paris. The F46 category is designated for athletes with moderate movement impairment in one or both arms or the absence of limbs, requiring them to generate power from their hips and legs for the throw.
Hailing from Karagani village in Maharashtra's Sangli district, Sachin lost muscle function in his left arm due to gangrene during his school years. Despite multiple surgeries, his arm never fully recovered, but this did not deter him from achieving greatness in athletics.
On Tuesday, India secured five medals, increasing their total to 10 (4 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze). China currently leads the medal tally, followed by Brazil. The Hangzhou Asian Games gold-medalist expressed his confidence in winning gold. "I was expecting the gold here and I am happy. I have also qualified for the Paris Olympics and hope to win gold there as well," Sachin said from Kobe.
With three more days remaining in the competition, India has the potential to win additional medals. Head coach Satyanarayan remains optimistic, stating, "We are expecting two more gold medals and hoping to reach the 17-medal mark."
On Tuesday, reigning Paralympics champion Sumit Antil defended his F64 javelin throw world title. Thangavelu Mariyappan and Ekta Bhyan also secured gold medals in their respective events, propelling India to third place in the World Para Athletics Championships.
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