Indian para-athlete Praveen Kumar clinched gold in the men’s high jump T64 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024, setting a new Asian record with a jump of 2.08 meters. The 21-year-old’s stellar performance secured him the top spot, ahead of USA’s Derek Loccident (2.06m) and Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov (2.03m).
Kumar, who opted to start at 1.89 meters, successfully cleared seven jumps on his first attempt, showcasing his dominance. Though he and Loccident failed to clear the 2.10-meter mark, Kumar’s personal best performance underscored his exceptional talent.
This victory marks India’s sixth gold medal at the Paris Paralympics, surpassing their previous record of five gold medals at the Tokyo Paralympics. Kumar’s journey to the top has been marked by overcoming significant personal and athletic challenges, including his congenital impairment affecting his left leg.
Kumar’s success adds to India’s strong showing in high jump, joining Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thagavelu as medalists in this event.
