Tokyo Paralympics: Praveen Kumar wins silver in T64 Men’s High Jump
New Delhi: Indian athlete Praveen Kumar won a silver medal in class T64 of the Men’s High Jump finals in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics 2020 on Friday.
The 18-year-old Paralympic debutant set a new Asian record with his 2.07m jump and finished after Great Britain’s Jonathan Broom-Edwards set the season’s best of 2.10m to win gold. Maciej Lepiato of Poland won a bronze medal with a jump of 2.04m.
The World No.3 earned a Paralympic qualification after securing the fourth rank at the Junior Championship by clearing a personal best record of 1.92m.
Though Kumar has a T44 disability, he is eligible to compete in the T64 class. T44 includes athletes suffering from leg deficiency, leg-length difference, impaired muscle power, or impaired passive range of leg movements.
T64 includes athletes with leg amputation. These athletes are required to compete with prosthetics in a standing position. Kumar’s congenital impairment affects the bones connecting his left hip to his left leg.
On the other hand, Indian badminton players Palak Kohli and Pramod Bhagat defeated Thailand’s Siripong Teamarrom and Nipada Saensupa 2-0 by scores 21-15, 21-19 in the Mixed Doubles SL/SU class in Group B on Friday and secured a place in the semi-finals.
(Avya Mathur)
