Tokyo Paralympics: Praveen Kumar Clinches Silver for India

Tokyo: Praveen was second with a best jump result of 2.07m, behind Jonathan Bloom Edwards of the United Kingdom as he failed to cross 2.10 meters in three attempts. Praveen’s silver medal is India’s 11th medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which includes two gold, six silver and three bronze medals.

Kumar previously won a silver medal in the Junior World Championships in 2019 (his debut year). He currently ranks third in the world in the T44 ranking. His maiden high jump was at a local competition for non-disabled athletes. Kumar has been training with national coach Satyapal Singh since childhood.

Tokyo Paralympics 2020 was Kumar’s maiden Paralympic Games where he strikes a new Asian record with 2.07m, behind the British Jonathan Bloom Edwards, who set the best record of 2.1m gold medal this season. The bronze medal was won by the Rio Olympic champion Maciej Lepiota from Poland, who scored 2.04 meters.

The T64 classification applies to athletes with leg amputations who compete with prostheses in the standing position. T44 is a disability classification that Kumar has but is eligible to participate in the T64 competition. It is suitable for athletes with leg defects, leg length differences, altered muscle strength or altered passive range of motion of the legs. His congenital injury affected the bones that connect his hip and left leg. The ongoing Paralympics Games proved to be the best Paralympics Games in Indian history. So far, the country has won two gold, six silver and three bronze medals.