(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
In a thrilling day at the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, Indian athlete Dharambir stole the show, clinching silver in the men’s club throw F51 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. This category, known for its extreme challenges under impaired muscle power, saw the 36-year-old Paris Paralympics gold medalist from 2024 deliver his season-best throw of 29.71 meters on his final sixth attempt.
Dharambir, supported by India’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), beamed with pride after the podium finish. “I’m happy with my performance,” he said in a press release from the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI). “Standing on the podium at home feels special. Gold would have been great, but I’m still thrilled.”
He also praised the event’s impact on Indian para athletics. “This championships ticks so many boxes for our country,” Dharambir added. “We’ve organized it well, and it motivates us even more. We’re bidding for the Paralympic Games—it’s a smart move by the government and federation. We’ll gain a lot from it.”
Dharambir’s coach, Amit Saroha, felt confident about a medal all along. The pair trained hard at SAI Sonepat leading up to the competition. Saroha even hoped teammate Pranav Soorma would join the medal rush, but Soorma hit his season-best of 28.19 meters and ended up fifth. Saroha himself missed out after a recent fracture sidelined him from competing.
Rain and lightning forced a brief suspension of Thursday evening’s events, making things tricky for the athletes. As last year’s bronze winner at the Kobe World Para Athletics Championships, Dharambir noted the wet conditions hurt his grip. “The rain made it tough, but I’m still happy,” he said. “We could have grabbed two medals if Pranav had edged into the top three, but our rivals stepped up big time.”
Saroha echoed the frustration but highlighted their preparation. “Most athletes nailed their best throws in the first round,” he explained. “Once the club got wet, gripping it became a real struggle, and scores dropped. But we trained in all weather—sun, rain, you name it—and that paid off.”
India notched another podium spot when Atul Kaushik grabbed bronze in the highly competitive men’s discus throw F57. His 45.61-meter effort on the fifth attempt sealed the deal. A local favorite training and living near the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kaushik called it his biggest stage yet. “I’m over the moon with how I did,” he shared. “Rain slowed everyone down, including me, but that’s part of the game.”
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