Nishad Kumar wins silver medal in T47 event
Nishad Kumar from India secured a silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 competition at the Paris Paralympics. The 24-year-old won another silver medal in the same event as the one from the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago. Nishad reached a personal best by jumping 2.04m, coming in second to USA’s Roderick Townsend, who clinched the gold medal at the Tokyo event.
Nishad Kumar delivered an impressive performance in the men’s high jump T47 event, showcasing his dominance over the 11-man competition. Still, Townsend achieved a season best and won a gold medal by clearing the 2.12m mark.
Nishad looked disheartened following his third unsuccessful try at clearing 2.08m. Nonetheless, Townsend quickly approached him and embraced him, resulting in both high jumpers smiling.
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India’s athletics medals tally goes to 3
With Nishad’s medal, India took its tally in athletics to 3 medals after Preethi Pal won her second medal in Paris, a bronze in the women’s 200m T35 event. India won 8 medals in track and field in Tokyo.
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Nishad’s journey to fame
When Nishad was six years old, he experienced a serious accident where his right hand was cut off by a grass-cutting machine on his family’s farm. Even with this disappointment, he discovered comfort in sports, especially track and field, which his mother, a skilled volleyball player and discus thrower at the state level, supported. He started participating in para-athletics in 2009 and has now established himself as a formidable presence in the sport.
Nishad went to the Paralympics following his second-place finish at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, and the determined high jumper performed well in Paris.
