Paris Paralympics: Praveen Kumar strikes gold in T64 high jump.
Praveen Kumar of India set a new Asian record with a 2.08m jump to win gold in the men's high jump T64 event at the Paris Paralympics.
India's Praveen Kumar wowed with a record-breaking performance in the men's high jump T64 event, clinching Paralympic gold in Paris on Friday. The 21-year-old from Noida, born with a shortened leg, set a new Asian record with a 2.08m jump in a field of six, securing the top spot.
USA's Derek Loccident took silver with a 2.06m jump, while Uzbekistan's Temurbek Giyazov, with a personal best of 2.03m, finished third. Kumar started at 1.89m and cleared seven jumps on his first attempt, positioning himself well for gold. The bar was raised to 2.10m, but neither Kumar nor Loccident managed to clear it.
This performance also marks Kumar's personal best, and he competes in T44, which is for athletes with moderate impairment in one lower leg. His congenital condition affects the bones connecting his hip to his left leg.
Kumar's path to para-athletics was fraught with challenges, often struggling with feelings of inadequacy. He initially played volleyball to address these insecurities but found his calling in high jump after participating in an able-bodied competition. He joins Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thagavelu as the third high jumper to medal in Paris.
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