Praveen Kumar clinched a silver medal at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics. The Delhi lad leapt a best of 2.07m to win India’s fourth high jump (Men’s T64) medal in Tokyo. He has not only become the youngest Indian to win a Paralympics medal but also creating the Asian Record with a mark of 2.07m in the finals.
The 18-year-old Praveen registered scores of 1.88m, 1.93m and 2.01m before creating the Asian Record as he leapt the mark of 2.07m in the finals. Praveen’s silver is India’s third silver in high jump at the Tokyo Paralympics and their eleventh medal overall.
In the process of clinching the silver, upsetting the World Record holder, Praveen Kumar also became the youngest Indian to win a Paralympics medal. At just 18 years of age, the high jumper went past Avani Lekhara who was 19-year-old when she won the gold medal in Women’s 10m Air Rifle SH1 earlier this week.
Earlier this week, Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar won silver and bronze respectively in the men’s high jump final in Sport Class T42. Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched silver after leaping the mark of 1.86m — his second medal at the Games, having already won a gold in Rio 2016. Sharad Kumar on the other hand grabbed bronze after scaling his season-best mark of 1.83m.
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has congratulated Praveen Kumar for winning the Silver Medal in High Jump at the Paralympics Games in Tokyo.
In a tweet, Prime Minister said –
“Proud of Praveen Kumar for winning the Silver medal at the #Paralympics. This medal is the result of his hard work and unparalleled dedication. Congratulations to him. Best wishes for his future endeavours.