Paralympics: Praveen Kumar wins gold in men's high jump T64

Praveen achieved personal-best jump of 2.08m

Praveen Kumar of India clinched the gold medal in the men’s high jump T64 event at the 2024 Paris Paralympics by clearing 2.08 meters, securing his second back-to-back Paralympic medal. Praveen achieved a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics by jumping a personal best of 2.07 meters, showcasing a impressive ongoing streak of success at the global level.

The 21-year-old sportsman from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, became the second Indian, following Mariyappan Thangavelu, to achieve gold in Paralympic high jump events.

The athlete, aged 21 and hailing from Noida, who was born with a shorter leg, achieved a season-best jump of 2.08m in a competition with six participants to claim first place.

Also read: Kapil Parmar wins India’s first-ever Paralympic medal in judo

Derek Loccident of USA won silver medal

Derek Loccident from the USA won the silver medal by jumping 2.06m, with Temurbek Giyazov from Uzbekistan coming in third after achieving a personal best of 2.03m. Praveen participates in the T44 classification, which is for athletes with slight to moderate lower leg movement impairment, while the T64 category is for athletes with moderate impairment in one lower leg or missing one or both legs below the knee.

Also read: Sumit Antil Defends Paralympic Javelin Gold; All you need to know…

India’s tally now stands at 26 medals

This accomplishment made Praveen the third Indian high jumper to win a medal in Paris, after Sharad Kumar won silver and Mariyappan Thangavelu won bronze in the men’s high jump T63 event. India now has a total of 26 medals at the Paris Paralympics, comprising of six gold, nine silver, and 11 bronze medals.

Who is Praveen Kumar?

Praveen faced challenges during his journey. Having one leg shorter at birth, he initially found it challenging to feel equal to his peers due to feelings of inferiority. In order to conquer his lack of confidence, he embraced sports, engaging in games with his friends and finding a love for volleyball. His life changed significantly when he competed in a high jump event at a mainstream athletics competition, where he discovered the possibilities for athletes with disabilities.

With guidance from Dr. Satyapal Singh, a para-athletics coach who saw his abilities, Praveen redirected his attention to the high jump event. This choice ended up being a pivotal moment in his professional journey. He proceeded to achieve a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games by breaking a new Asian record with a 2.05 meter jump.