Paralympics-6th September 2024
In the Men’s High Jump T64 event on Friday, Praveen Kumar secured India’s sixth gold medal at the Paris Paralympics by taking the top spot. India stands at the 14th spot with a total of 26 medals, which comprise 6 gold, 9 silver, and 11 bronze medals.
With a best jump of 2.06 meters, Derek Loccident of the USA won silver, and Temurbek Giyazov of Uzbekistan took third place with a personal best jump of 2.03 meters.
Praveen Kumar as he wins the 6th gold medal
Praveen, who was born in Govindgarh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, was successful from a young age and became the youngest para-athlete to medal in the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020. With an outstanding leap of 2.07 meters, he won a silver medal in the men’s T64 high jump division. Due to his short leg at birth, the high jumper experienced an inferior complex at first and was underconfident about himself. To overcome these fears, he began participating in a variety of sports before he developed a passion for volleyball.
But when he competed in an athletics competition for people with disabilities and won a high jump event, his life took a turn. That is when he learned about the opportunities accessible to athletes with disabilities.
Praveen changed his focus to the high jump with the help of para-athletics coach Dr. Satyapal Singh, who saw his potential. Praveen broke the Asian record with a jump of 2.05 meters, winning gold at the Asian Para Games in 2022, proving that his decision was correct and proved everyone wrong!
Additionally, he won a gold medal with an Asian record at the World Para Athletics FAZZA Grand Prix in Dubai in 2021, as well as a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Junior Championship in 2019 held in Nottwil, Switzerland. He most recently qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympics by winning a bronze at the World Para Athletics Championship in 2023.
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