India's Rinku Hooda Hurls to Gold, Breaks Championship Record at World Para Athletics

Rinku Hooda and Sundar Singh Gurjar produced a historic one-two finish in the Men's Javelin Throw F46 at the World Para Athletics Championships, with Rinku claiming India's second gold medal of the tournament.

Rinku broke China’s C. Guo’s 10-year-old Championship Record of 61.89m with an opening-round throw of 63.81m at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Two-time Paralympic bronze medallist Sundar briefly went ahead with a third-round effort of 64.11m.

However, Sundar’s lead was short-lived. In the very next round, Rinku unleashed a massive throw of 66.37m. Sundar needed a mark close to his World Record of 68.60m but could only manage 64.76m in the fifth round and was unable to improve in his final attempt.

India narrowly missed out on a podium sweep as Paris Paralympics silver medallist Ajeet Singh Yadav finished fourth with 61.77m, while Cuba’s Guillermo Varona Gonzalez claimed the bronze with 63.34m.

With this performance, India has now won five medals at the ongoing edition of the World Championships, which concludes on 5 October. Shailesh Kumar and Varun Singh Bhati secured a gold and silver respectively, in the Men’s High Jump T63, while Deepthi Jeevanji clinched bronze in the Women’s 400m T20 event.

Rinku has been on a remarkable run of form. He previously claimed gold in the F46 category with a throw of 60.26m at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025, following his triumph at the 22nd National Para Athletics Championships in Goa and a silver medal at the fourth Asian Para Games.