Tokyo Paralympics: Sundar Singh Gurjar wins bronze with throw of 64.01m in Men's Javelin Throw F46

Devendra Jhajharia is dominating the limelight among javelin throwers, after becoming just the second Indian ever to win three medals at the Paralympics after Joginder Singh Bedi. Devendra made the nation proud by winning a silver medal, in the F46 Final of the men’s Javelin Throw event in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. However, one should pay equal attention to a superb performance from two-time reigning world champion Sundar Singh Gurjar who won bronze in the same event with a throw of 64.01m.

Sundar kicked off the final in the best manner among the three Indian para-athletes (him, Devendra and Ajeet Singh Yadav) with a score of 62.58. The javelin thrower maintained the surge as the event progressed, as evident from the fourth-placed finish going into the final three attempts. However, Sundar was hit hard following an intentional foul in the fourth attempt, resulting in him needing something special in the final two attempts. The 25-year-old showcased his prowess at this stage, recording a throw of 64.01m which propelled him into the third position. There was a touch of Neeraj Chopra in his reaction, with a look of celebration the moment he released it.

However, Sundar would have been pushed out of a medal berth in case Cuban athlete Guillermo Varona had managed to outperform him. Fortunately from the Indian viewpoint, Guillermo struggled to hold his nerve securing a medal for the Indian who looked elated.

Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Herath won gold after shattering Jhajharia’s world record with a sensational 67.79m throw in his third attempt. Sundar won bronze with a throw of 64.01m. Ajeet, the other Indian in the event who won bronze in the last World Championships, finished eighth with a throw of 56.15m.

Sundar Singh Gurjar had almost quit the sport at one point

Sundar used to compete in the general category, before he lost his left palm in an accident in 2015. He then began competing in the para-sports F46 category, in which athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms compete in a standing position.

In 2016, Sundar made the ‘A’ qualification mark for the Rio Paralympics with a throw of 59.36m at the yearly FAZZA IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai. He was one of the favourites for the edition, following a national record throw of 68.42m at the Para Athletics National Championships. However, Sundar was disqualified having failed to understand the announcer’s accent, reaching 52 seconds late for the start of the javelin throw event.

The javelin thrower entered a state of depression at this point refusing to train and even considered quitting the sport altogether. However, constant encouragement from coach Mahaveer Saini helped him regain the desire to compete.

“I am elated to win the bronze medal in the Paralympics. Want to thank my coach Mahavir Saini who trained me from 2009 to 2021 & stood by me in bad times. I also want to thank my family, SAI & PCI for support & PM Modi for motivation,” stated Sundar as quoted by ANI.