Ajeet Singh Yadav, a 30-year-old athlete from Uttar Pradesh, won a paralympic silver medal in the men’s F46 javelin throw at the Paris Paralympics. He threw 65.62 meters, surpassing his teammate Sundar Singh Gurjar, who took bronze with a throw of 64.96 meters. Cuban athlete Guillermo Varona won gold with a throw of 66.14 meters.
Ajeet Singh Yadav’s Heroic Past
On December 4, 2017, Ajeet Singh Yadav was involved in a tragic train accident. After attending a wedding, he and his friend Anshuman Singh got off the Kamayani Express at Maihar station. When the train started moving, Yadav fell while trying to save Anshuman, who had slipped. Yadav’s left arm was crushed under the train’s wheels.
Despite the severe injury, Yadav did not give up on his athletics career. He had to restart his training under Dr. Rakesh Kumar Yadav, a college senior and friend. They focused on building his shoulder strength and improving his leg movement.
Yadav finished eighth at the Tokyo Paralympics with a throw of 56.15 meters. Afterward, he dealt with an elbow injury and had surgery. He then won the Para World title in Paris with a throw of 65.41 meters and a bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Games with a throw of 63.52 meters. Earlier this year, he also won bronze at the World Championships in Kobe with a throw of 62.11 meters.
Sundar Gurjar’s Achievement
Sundar Singh Gurjar, who previously won bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics, also earned a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics. Gurjar, who is the current world record holder with a throw of 68.60 meters, had a tough start when he missed the Rio Paralympics due to a non-start incident. Despite this setback, he returned to form and set a new world record at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games.
Celebrations and Future Plans
Gurjar’s family is excited about his success and plans to celebrate his achievements. Gurjar, who had almost quit the sport after missing Rio, continued to train hard and improve his skills. His brother, Hari Om Gurjar, noted that Sundar wanted to win a medal in Paris, just as Neeraj Chopra won two medals in the Olympics.
In Etawah, Yadav’s family is proud of his silver medal and looks forward to his return. His brother, Anshu Kumar Yadav, and their parents are eager to welcome him back and celebrate his success.