Vinod Kumar fetched a bronze in the Discus Throw T52 event, which was put on hold after a protest over his disability classification.
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India’s Vinod Kumar won the bronze medal in the F52 category of men’s discus throw to take India’s tally at the Paralympic Games to three medals on Sunday. But later in the day, the organisers put the result under review. The 41-year-old, who is participating in his first Paralympics Games, threw 19.91 in his fifth attempt, which was enough to secure a medal. He sat in silver medal position after his throw until Croatia’s Velimir Sandor displaced him with a throw of 19.98.
It seemed a podium finish would evade the Indian with defending champion Apinis Aigars of Latvia going last in the order. But the 48-year-old veteran couldn’t catch up with Kumar as his best attempt was 19.54m. Poland’s Piotr Kosewicsz won the gold medal with a throw of 20.02.
Vinod KUMAR Result on Hold: His opponent has protested and has asked to review the result. Vinod Kumar has won the bronze medal ?#Paralympics https://t.co/iya4bUAZC3
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) August 29, 2021
Vinod’s bronze medal was put on hold after a protest over his disability classification. Vinod’s classification in F52, which is for athletes with impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference, was done on August 22 by the organisers. It was not clear on what grounds the classification has been challenged.
“Results of this event are currently under review due to classification observation in competition. The Victory Ceremony has been postponed to the evening session of 30th August,” read a statement from the Games organisers.
India’s Chef de Mission Gursharan Singh told PTI that Vinod’s medal stands for now.
“There was a protest from one country or may be more than one, we don’t know as it can’t be revealed, that there could be issues on the classification done on Vinod before the start of Paralympics,” he said.
“Vinod’s result, that is his bronze, still stands and a decision is unlikely to come today. It’s expected tomorrow,” added Singh.
Nishad Kumar won India’s second medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. He claimed silver in the men’s high jump T47 final with a best jump of 2.06m.
Nishad, who is a farmer’s son hails from Himachal Pradesh’s Amb town. 41-year-old BSF man Vinod produced a best throw of 19.91m to clinch a bronze.
The two athletics medals came after Bhavinaben Patel earned India its first medal in the Games, by winning a silver in the women’s singles table tennis class 4 event.
Avani Lekhara, the 19-year-old from Jaipur has scripted history by winning the gold medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle standing SH1 event. She not only won the gold medal, but also equalled the world record with a total score of 249.6. Avani further became the first Indian woman in the history of the Paralympic Games to win a gold medal.
