Photographs: Getty Images
India's Devendra Jhajharia won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw T46 at the IPC (International Paralympic Commitee) Athletics World Championships at Rhône Stadium in Vénissieux near Lyon on Monday.
Jhajharia began with a throw of 54.71 metres to take the lead after the first round. He then crossed the 50 metre mark with every subsequent throw as he recorded 50.78, 52.04, 53.04 and 52.85 in his next four attempts.
In the process he also went on create a new Championship record with a massive 57.04m in his last attempt, beating the previous record of 55.90 metres set by Guo Chunliang of China in New Zealand two years ago.
The one-armed athlete from Rajasthan who had earlier climbed to the top of the podium at the 2004 Games when he hurled the spear to a distance of 62.15 metres, a world record, beat back a stiff challenge from Iran's Abdolrasoul Mirshekari who won the silver and Egypt's Mahmoud Ismail who took bronze.
A Padma Shri, Jhajharia, who lost an arm in an accident at a young age, is also the national coach of the Paralympic Committee of India.
Paralympic Committee of India has announced a cash reward of Rs. 5 lakh for Jhajharia.
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