Tokyo Paralympics: Devendra Jhajharia dedicates silver to late father

Javelin thrower Jhajharia, 40, India’s greatest Paralympian after winning gold medals in 2004 and 2016, pulled off a new personal best throw of 64.35m for the silver in F46 classification

Not being there with his cancer-stricken father during his dying moments last year still rankles Devendra Jhajharia, who on Monday dedicated his third Paralympic medal to the man without whose encouragement, he wouldn’t have competed.

Javelin thrower Jhajharia, 40, India’s greatest Paralympian after winning gold medals in 2004 and 2016, pulled off a new personal best throw of 64.35m for the silver in F46 classification. 

“Of course, this medal belongs to the people of the country, but I also want to dedicate this to my late father [Ram Singh] who had wanted me to win another medal in the Paralympics,” Jhajharia told PTI from Tokyo. 

F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms. 

Bronze for Sundar

Sundar Singh Gurjar chipped in with a bronze, finishing behind Devendra Jhajharia in the men’s javelin throw F46 final. India’s medal count has now risen to seven, including one gold (shooting), three more than the four secured in the 2016 Rio Games.

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