Sundar defends World title as India secure 3 Tokyo Paralympic Games quota

Sundar Singh Gurjar overcame a shoulder injury to defend his World Para Athletics Championships title in men's F46 javelin throw event while also securing Tokyo Paralympic Games quota, along with bronze winner Ajeet Singh and Rinku, here.
Gurjar came up with his season's best effort of 61.22m to claim top spot. Singh sent spear to a distance of 59.46m to clinch bronze while Rinku finished fourth.

"I am very happy. It was a relief. I came into this Championships with training for last month. I got injury in my training and so h to tap my shoulder today. When I was training, I felt pain. But I was lucky at finals, I didn't feel it. I felt my body was well-rested. It was a blessing in disguise," Gurjar told Paralympic Committee of India.

"In my last attempt, I knew that I got it re. But never realized that it will be my season-best. It was a good leap. This will motivate me to go for a medal at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics," he ded.

Under International Paralympic Committee rules, top four ranked athletes at 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in each of individual medal events on Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Programme (excluding Marathon) will each obtain one qualification slot for ir respective country.

23-year-old Gurjar t only defended his London Worlds 2017 title here but also became only second Indian to have clinched two World Championships medals after Devendra Jhajharia's gold and silver in 2013 Lyon and 2015 Doha Championships.

Staying in second place till his fifth attempt, Gurjar hurled javelin to a distance of 61.22 meters in his sixth attempt, eugh to jump to top of results table ahe of Sri Lanka's Dinesh P Herath Mudiyansel who was leing till n with his first attempt throw of 60.59m.

F46 category athletes have a single below or above elbow amputation.

"Indian javelin throwers have always brought laurels to India. Today once again our players showed that y will be ones to beat at Tokyo 2020. This also shows that we are on right track," said Gursharan Singh, interim president of Paralympic Committee of India. India w has two gold, one silver and a bronze from this Championships. Later on Monday, six Indians will be in action, including Ekta Bhyan and Kashish Lakra in women's Club Throw F51 final and Yogesh Kathuniya in Men's Discus Throw F56 Final.