Para-athlete Praveen Kumar made all Indias head up with pride at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Kumar claimed the gold medal at the men’s high jump T64 finals with a glorious 2.08m high jump at the Paris Paralympics 2024. With his win, India gained their sixth gold medal at the prestigious event. He became the second youngest Indian after Mariyappan Thangavelu, to win gold in Paralympic high jump competitions. The young athlete had always shown his worth in important events like previously at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics with a personal best of 2.07 metres he also earned the silver. Let’s look into his inspiration journey.
Praveen Kumar’s life and journey
Born in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, the 21-year-old is short of a leg. Despite having struggles and insecurities about his disability he never loses hope of achieving something big.
Initially Praveen joined sports to make himself feel confident and happy. Despite discovering a passion for volleyball earlier things took an unexpected turn after he participated in a high jump event at an able-bodied athletics competition. After the event he discovered the opportunities available for athletes with disabilities making him more adamant of achieving something grand.
After years of hard work, Praveen’s potential was recognized by Dr. Satyapal Singh, a para-athletics coach who inspired him to pivot his focus to the high jump.
Praveen’s hard work paid off in 2022 when he won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games with a new Asian record 2.05 metres jump.
Additionally, he won a silver medal at the 2019 World Para Athletics Junior Championship, a gold medal at the 2021 World Para Athletics FAZZA Grand Prix and a bronze medal at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championship.
Highlight of the high jump T64 finals
The previous silver-medalist Olympian upgraded his title with a clean jump all the way to 2.08m breaking the Asian Record. Meanwhile, USA’s Derek Loccident, Poland’s Maciej Lepiato, and Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov respectively earned silver and joint bronze medals with 2.06m ahd 2.03m.
This medal marked India’s 6th gold medal at the quadrennial event. Prior to Parveen, Shooter Avani Lekhara, Badminton player Kumar Nitesh, Javelin thrower Sumit Antil, Archer Harvinder Singh, and club thrower Dharambir Nain also claimed the glorious gold medal.
The 2024 Paralympics also marked India’s highest-ever medal tally with six gold, nine silver, and twelve bronze and still counting.
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