Paralympics: India's Sachin Khilari wins silver with Asian record

World champion Sachin Khilari clinched silver in the Paris Paralympics on Wednesday. Khilari threw 16.32m in the men's shot put F46 - finishing behind Canada's Greg Stewart at Stade de France in Paris. Khilari's throw on Wednesday was also the best effort an Asian has ever put in the men's F46 event.There were a total of three Indians participating in the event. Mohd Yasser and Rohit Kumar were not able to get into the podium contention, finishing 8th and 9th respectively with best throws of 14.21m and 14.10m.Sachin's silver win in Paris is India's 11th medal in the para-athletics alone. The track and field contingent has proven to be India's main medal clincher in the Paralympics 2024.

Sachin Khilari soars to new heights with a Silver Medal in the Men's Shot Put F46 at the #Paralympics2024!
Your relentless pursuit of greatness has earned you a place on the podium & in our hearts. Well done!#Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/v6v0rXGONl

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 4, 2024

Born in Kargani, Atpadi Taluka, Sangli district, Maharashtra, Khilari's journey to becoming a world-class athlete is a testament to his resilience and determination. Khilari's early life was marked by adversity. At the age of nine, he suffered a bicycle accident that led to a fracture and gangrene in his left hand. Despite this, he pursued his passion for sports while studying to become an engineer. Initially, he took up javelin throw but was forced to switch to shot put after a shoulder injury. This change proved to be a turning point in his career.