Paris 2024 Paralympics: ‘Warrior’ Sachin Sarjerao Khilari breaks Asian record for silver medal in shot put

World champion Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of India won the silver medal in the men’s shot put F46 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old Indian para athlete secured the Paralympic medal in style with an Asian record of 16.32m on his second attempt.

Canada’s Greg Stewart defended his title with a season-best throw of 16.38m while Croatia’s Luka Bakovic completed the podium with a personal best of 16.27m. India’s Mohd Yasser (14.21m) and Rohit Kumar (14.10) came eighth and ninth, respectively.

The F46 classification is a part of sports classes for athletes with arm impairments, such as those with above or below elbow amputations.

Sachin Khilari, born to a farmer’s family in Sangli, Maharashtra, was left disabled in his left hand after falling from a bicycle during his school days. Apart from being a para-athlete, Sachin is a mechanical engineer and helps students prepare for state (MPSC) and national (UPSC) public service commission exams.

The silver in the men's shot put F46 event has lifted India’s medal tally at the Paris 2024 Paralympics to 21. With five medals secured on Tuesday, India has already surpassed its previous best of 19 medals, achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

In para athletics, it was India’s 11th medal. Speaking of India’s impressive performance at Paris 2024 so far, Khilari said being comfortable on a big stage has helped the Indian athletes at this Games.

“Indians are warriors. We are well prepared to do our best on a huge platform. We are comfortable on the big stage, so I think that gives us an advantage," he said.

“My headband is part of my warrior’s uniform. And because I sweat, of course. My coach suggested it to me and it worked. I have a medal.”

Sachin was introduced to para sports in 2015 and he has not looked back since.

He is a two-time reigning champion and a gold medal winner at the Asian Para Games 2023. He defeated Greg Stewart for the gold medal at the Para World Championships earlier this year.

“I feel I can do better,” Sachin said. “I wanted another gold medal (after winning the world title in May). But it was not possible this time. It was not my day. This was my personal best, which is great. But I am not satisfied. I know I can do better next time.

“Greg is very good. He had a great competition. I need to work harder to beat him next time. I made a few mistakes today in my technique. But I will definitely beat him next time.”