Jhajharia Smashes Own World Record to Win Gold at Rio Paralympics

At 36, Jhajharia is currently ranked third in the world.

India’s Devendra Jhajharia poses for the pictures next to the scoreboard that shows his world record in the men’s javelin throw F46 athletics event at the Paralympic Games. (Photo: AP)

India’s Devendra Jhajharia smashed his own world record in the men’s javelin throw F46 event to grab the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics on Tuesday night.

The 36-year-old successfully defended his medal from the 2004 Athens Paralympics where he had set the world record with a throw of 62.15 metres. On Tuesday, he bettered it with an attempt of 63.97 metres at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhao).

Jhajharia last participated in the Paralympics 12 years ago with his F46 Javelin event not featuring in the 2008 and 2012 editions of the Games.

Devendra competed in the event alongside fellow Indians Rinku Hooda and Sundar Singh Gurjar. Rinku finished fifth with a personal best of 54.39 metres in six attempts, while Sundar Singh Gurjar didn’t start the event.

The gold takes India’s medal tally at this edition of the Paralympics to four -- two golds, one silver and a bronze.

India’s Rinku competes in the men’s javelin throw F46 final in the athletics event at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (Photo: AP)

The Rajasthan born athlete, with an amputated left hand, was awarded the Arjuna award in 2004 and the Padma Shri in 2012, becoming the first Paralympian to receive the honour.

He was electrocuted while climbing a tree when he was eight years old and his left hand had to be amputated but that didn’t deter him from pursuing his dreams. The track and field star won gold at the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Athletics World Championships in Lyon in 2013.

(With inputs from IANS)