Paralympics 2024: Yogesh Kathuniya defends Tokyo silver with season-best discuss throw

Indian para athlete Yogesh Kathuniya won a silver for the country in F56 discuss throw event on Monday (Sep 2), taking India's tally to total eight medals at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024. Kathuniya won the silver with his season-best throw of 42.22 m, which he managed in his first of six attempts.

The gold was won by Brazil's Claudiney Batista with a throw of 46.86m - a Paralympic record now.

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Kathuniya had won the silver in the same event at Tokyo Paralympics 2021 as well and did well to defend his medal in Paris.

Earlier on Sunday (Sep 1), Nishad Kumar won silver in high jump and Preethi Pal won a bronze in 200 m - her second medal of Paris Paralympics.

Who is Yogesh Kathuniya who defended his silver at Paris Paralympics 2024?

Para athlete Yogesh Kumar was born on March 3, 1977, in Bengaluru. At the age of nine, he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. The medical condition left Yogesh in wheelchair for two years.

Yogesh's mother, Meena Devi, however, learned physiotherapy to help her son and Yogesh was able to walk within three years.

His sports journey started in 2016 while studying at Kirori Mal College, New Delhi. In 2018, Yogesh set a world record in discuss throw in F36 category at the World Para Athletics European Championships in Berlin, Germany.

His milestone moment came in 2021 when he won the silver medal in F56 category of discuss throw. He was also awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in the same year for his achievement in the field of sports.

Kathuniya has battled various issues throughout his life, apart from the neurological disorder, which caused him not only physical but mental discontent as well.