Dilip shukla

Khelo India Para Games: Skill, will and thrill were on view as the athletes cranked up their game to corner glory in the Khelo India Para Games in the Capital on Tuesday. Seasoned star and Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Yogesh Kathuniya of Haryana bagged a gold in the discus throw for F56 category with an effort of 40.09m. The 26-year-old, who developed a rare neurological condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome when he was only nine years old, took up para sports in 2017. He tried several disciplines but instantly fell in love with discus throw.

Kathuniya will be vying to bag the honours in the Paris Paralympics next year and will remain the focus as India’s para athletes prepare for the Summer Games. In the same category, Birbhadra Singh of UP finished second with a throw of 36.24m and Tamil Nadu’s Prakash V clinched a bronze with 33.91m.

Meanwhile another international star Paramjeet Kumar, who won India’s first ever World Championships medal in powerlifting, lived up to the billing in power lifting for the elite 49kg category. Paramjeet Kumar stole the show with his exploits in the powerlifting arena as he won gold with a massive 150kg in the Elite 49kg category.