Paris Paralympics 2024 Day 9 Highlights: Praveen Kumar wins high jump T64 for India’s 6th gold; Hokato Sema wins shot put F57 bronze; Simran in 200m T12 final

A record-breaking 6th gold medal.

A late-night bronze for overall 27th medal.

Another impressive day in Paris for India's Paralympians.

Read more here.

India finish the day with 27 medals, with Praveen Kumar's gold in high jump earlier in the day and Hokato Hotozhe Sema's bronze late in the night. 

Hokato Hotozhe Sema came into the Men's Shot Put - F57 Final with a Personal Best of 14.49m. He was sixth in the order of the athletes to throw. As this is a seated throw event, where athletes have to be harnessed to a throwing chair, all six attempts would be taken together in one go. The top two spots were all but decided early on. Yasin Khosravi and Thiago Paulino dos Santos throwing 15.96m (Paralympics Record) and 15.06m respectively. Khosravi and dos Santos had finished 1-2 at the World Championships in May earlier this year, so this was always on the cards. The battle was likely going to be between Finland's Teijo Koopikka and Sema. At the World Championships Koopikka had taken bronze with 14.74, while Sema had finished fourth with 13.97. But once the Finnish athlete was done with his six throws with a best of 14.18, Sema – going after him – knew he had the bronze in his sights. He moved into third position with 14.40 off his third throw, and then upgraded it to a new Personal Best of 14.65m to all but seal the third spot.

Hokato Hotozhe Sema wins BRONZE: Medal No 27 for India, thanks to 40-year-old Sema from Nagaland on Paralympics debut. The moment he threw his PB of 14.65m in the Men's Shot Put - F57 Final, looks like he knew he had it. 

A penny for Soman Rana's thoughts though. He has a PB of 15+ from this year as listed on the start list. He threw 13.68 at the Worlds for sixth place, and currently is likely to finish 5th at the Paralympics with a best throw of 14.07. 

Nine athletes done now, and Sema's 3rd place is well safe. 

Podium scenes for Praveen Kumar! 

#Paris2024 #Paralympics #Athletics

?? National anthem for the sixth time ?

Praveen Kumar, what a day he had! https://t.co/Z00ycOWjEp pic.twitter.com/WnqSF6JuwG

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 6, 2024

8 athletes done, 4 more to go. Sema stays 3rd.

WEL, WLL, WELL. Pablo Damian Gimenez of Argentina was the only athlete left to throw in this event with a PB of 14.00+ and that puts Sema in a strong position to finish with a bronze here! But let's wait and watch of course.

Both Soman Rana and Hokato Hotozhe Sema have finished their 6 throws. Soman's best throw, 14.07m. Sema's best throw is a new PB, improving from 14.49 to 14.65! Nicely done. Currently 3rd. We now have to wait for the rest of the field... nervously. sema

Bhavanaben finishes fifth: A very, very impressive new PB of 39.70m, from 35.66m.

What a final it turned out to be too! 15yo Shahinakhon with a stunning PB to go first, then it is overtaken by Venezuela's Daniela. Shahinakhon came CLOSE to beating that with the final throw. She is devastated but what a feat! 15 years old!

Simran reaches 200m T12 final 

After her agonising miss in the 100m final, Simran has another shot at a medal as she reached Women’s 200m T12 final. Simran won Semifinal 3 with a timing of 25.03s, that gave her the automatic qualification. 

Final is on Saturday at 10.30pm IST

Well, thankfully for our collective sanity, Shahinakhon has thrown a STUNNING new Paralympic Record, so we don't have to think about that first throw. Still odd. But what a throw from the 15-year-old from the Uzbeki! 

Simran reaches 200m T12 final After her agonising miss in the 100m final, Simran has another shot at a medal as she reached Women’s 200m T12 final. Simran won Semifinal 3 with a timing of 25.03s, that gave her the automatic qualification. Simran, the current 200m world champion, had the third best timing in the semifinals overall. Final is on Saturday at 10.30pm IST

Simran into the final! Expectedly, battle between India & Germany for the top spot. A superb start from Simran, and despite slowing a bit in the end, she gets past the finish line & has the big Q.

We have a false start disqualification. KULINICH-SOROKINA Anna (NPA athlete) is out of this heat. 

Simran needs to win the heat or go quicker than 25.06

Simran's semifinal.

This is a little bit bizarre.

#Paris2024 #Paralympics#Athletics Women's Javelin Throw - F46 Final

This is confusing. Uzbekistan's Shahinakhon was given the red flag for her first throw. But since then it has been changed to 40.27... which has put her in the bronze medal position.?https://t.co/NdtVkobAIv pic.twitter.com/I8JZZvl7Tv

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 6, 2024

No surprises, Omara Durand breezes through the first heat in style. The second best timing here is 25.46, not too fast. 

Two 15+ throws already in this event and next up is Soman Rana.

"That's a monstrous PB," is how the World feed commentator puts it regarding Bhavanaben. Well done to her already. 

Of course we are halfway through, and Bhavana has been moved down to fourth place by what seems to have been a change of measurement for the UZB athlete. The first throw was originally X, but now measured at more than 40. 

OH WOW! Bhavanaben Chaudhary with a HUGE new Personal Best. She came into the event with 35.66, and she has just thrown 39.64! Briefly moved to 3rd place, but currently 4th.

New Paralympic Record! World Champion Khosravi finishes with a best throw of 15.96m, just short of his own of World Record. 

That is gold all but sealed in this event already. 

Bhavanaben evidently doesn't have the physique of some of the other throwers. But must say, her technique looks really nice!

Her 2nd attempt is also a solid 36.40, but we have had some big throws since the opening series.

Women's 200m - T12 Semi-Finals coming up at 11.12pm. And Simran, who had won this event in May at the Worlds in Omara Durand's absence, will need to be at her best to reach the final. (Semifinal 3, 11.28pm)

ICYMI earlier in the blog: Simran is in Semifinal 3. Only the first in each heat (Q) will get the automatic qualification to the medal race. Apart from the three Qs, only the next fastest (q) will advance. And Simran is in the same heat as Germany's Katrin, who had pipped her to bronze last night in the 100m final. The German veteran ran a quicker time than Simran in the Heats earlier today too. The Indian would ideally like to win the heat outright, because just one non automatic qualification spot makes it tricky. 

Early days but no 40m throw yet from any of the athletes (and there are more than a few capable). Bhavanaben's new PB has put her fourth for now. 

Nice. Bhavanaben begins her first attempt with a new Personal Best of 37.31m. It was 35.66 previously, so that's a nice improvement.

Soman Rana and Hokato Hotozhe Sema are in action in this seated throwing event. Soman has a PB of 15.02, but he finished behind Hokato at the Worlds earlier this year. Hokato's PB is 14.49. If either of them can better their PB, this could be interesting. 

Soman will go 4th, Hokato will go 6th. All six attempts in one go in this event. 

Bhavanaben Chaudhary is in action in this standing javelin event. Has a Personal Best of 35.66 and a Season Best of 34.23. The medal positions would likely be above the 40m mark.

Tokyo: 5 GOLD medals

In the 19-medal haul at Tokyo Paralympics, India had five champions. Avani Lekhara started things off in shooting sport, and Manish Narwal followed in shooting. Sumit Antil won his javelin throw title with a series of World Record throws. In the end, shuttlers Pramod Bhagat (SL3) and Krishna Nagar (SH6) made it a para badminton debut to remember. 

Paris: 6 GOLD MEDALS 

Avani and Sumit defended their titles. In badminton the SL3 title was retained by Nitesh Kumar, who was to be the only gold medallist. Shooting too saw one gold fewer. While there was never a doubt about going past the haul from Tokyo, India needed something special to break the gold medal record. It was delivered in style by Harvinder Singh (archery individual), Dharambir (Club Throw) and Praveen Kumar (High Jump). Arguably, even more impressive than going past 19 medals would be India's new record for gold medals.

Coming into the Men's High JumpT64 final at the Paris Paralympics on Friday, Praveen Kumar had only one thing in mind: go past his Personal Best. That was it. Medal or not, he wasn't fussed. His coach had told him the primary focus must be jump higher than he ever has at an event before in his life. 

As it turned out, that was more than enough for him to win India's record-breaking sixth gold medal for India in Paris. While the Tokyo tally of 19 was already comfortably overcome, getting past the five gold medals won three years back arguably represents an even bigger achievement. And it was made possible by a near flawless display of High Jump by the 21-year-old from Noida. 

"My coach told me to go for my personal best irrespective of whether I get a medal or not. I improved my personal best by one centimeter and I was really aiming for a 2.10m jump, but that I couldn’t manage. But I am happy now with the gold," Praveen said after clinching India's 26th medal in Paris. 

Read more here.

Paris champion Harvinder, who was drawn into para archery after the 2012 Olympics, said he aims to finish his PhD which had to be put on the hold as his career took off in sports.

'I was active in studies until 2018. From 2012, I would study in the morning and practice in the evening and there would be days when I would have two sessions,' he said.

'I got busier in sports after I got the medal (gold in Asian Para Games) in 2018 and because of all of that, my PhD got delayed.' 'I am doing PhD in economics from the Punjab University in Patiala, and since I have to win medals for the country, preparations for big tournaments also happened at big level which does not give me time, but I hope to finish my PhD in the next few months,' Harvinder said.

(Quotes via PTI) 

Three reds for 110kg, so Kasthuri Rajamani finishes with a best lift of 106kg. Eighth place for her. She waves to the La Chapelle crowd and blows some kisses as they cheer her on. 

Kasthuri is here for her third and last attempt of the day, going for 110kg.

Simran's semifinal in the 200m event will be at 11.28 pm and it's going to be a tricky one for her. 

She is in Semifinal 3. Only the first in each heat (Q) will get the automatic qualification to the medal race. Apart from the three Qs, only the next fastest (q) will advance. And Simran is in the same heat as Germany's Katrin, who had pipped her to bronze last night in the 100m final. The German veteran ran a quicker time than Simran in the Heats earlier today too. The Indian would ideally like to win the heat outright, because just one non automatic qualification spot makes it tricky. 

Kasthuri Rajamani, a 40-year-old on Paralympics debut, allows herself a little smile. She won't return from Paris without a lift against her name. Second attempt at 106kg and it's good.

Screenshot via Paralympics YouTube

Kasthuri is back for her 2nd attempt at 106kg. 

First rounds done, Kasthuri the only athlete in the field without a registered lift. She will be back shortly for 106kg second attempt.

A 40-year-old on debut, Kasthuri Rajamani's first attempt is 106kg. She gets the nod from one judge... but two judges rule against her. So no lift. She will have to come back for another try. 

Kasthuri Rajamani will be in action shortly. 

PARA POWERLIFTING GUIDE: 

How powerlifting works: Lifters select their own weights for the barbell. A coach helps them remove the bar from the racks. On command, the lifter lowers the bar to their chest, holds it, and then presses it overhead until their arms are fully straight, with the elbows fully locked. Judges decide if the lift is successful. Lifters get three tries, and the one who lifts the heaviest weight wins. Three attempts per athlete.

There are only different weight categories in this event, there are no other classifications. Any athletes "with a functional limitation of the lower limbs or hips that prevents them from practising standing weightlifting compete together."

For powerlifting, the eligible impairments are:

• Orthopaedic disability
• Cerebral palsy
• Neurological disability
• Paraplegia and tetraplegia
• Evolving neurological disability
  
  

It was tough event for Bhavina as she had to bow out without a second medal, after a tough draw that pitted her against the legendary Chinese paddler Zhou.

If there’s one thing that sport teaches us is you fall a hundred times, but you get up a hundred and one times.
You win some days and the others you learn. I gave my best but it wasn’t to be. There is still a lot to come from me. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/DSP23sMwx3

— Bhavina Patel PLY (@BhavinaOfficial) September 6, 2024

A look at the official results list for Men's High Jump T64.

Praveen Kumar: 'Before I took off for the 2.08m jump that fetched me the gold medal, I closed my eyes and saw my parents and coach urging me to go for the record. I thought they had always wanted me to win the gold here.'

Coming up next, at 8.30 pm, is a powerlifting event featuring Kasthuri Rajamani.

India have a celebration in the Games village after crossing the 25-medal milestone. Just noticed how Devendra Jhajharia is holding up the medal of Sheetal Devi for the photo.

The Indian contingent have a mini celebration in the Games Village after crossing the 25 medal tally at Paris Paralympics.

? / ?: PCI pic.twitter.com/WfcPnkEi0R

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) September 6, 2024

Wrote on the bond between Amit Kumar Saroha and Paris Paralympics champion Dharambir Nain. https://t.co/N2Rvs2PWCn

— Nitin Sharma (@Nitinsharma631) September 6, 2024

Comments from gold medallist PRAVEEN KUMAR (IND) after the Men’s High Jump T64 final at Stade de France on Friday.

On the reasons why he won gold:  

"My coach and my family are the keys to my victory. And also the whole country of India. I'm happy with my jumps today. My only secrets are hard work, training and keeping a good diet. That is all." 

Deepa Malik recalls a conversation with a young woman with a disability who was considering a career in sports.

“She asked me, ‘If I am on a long flight, how do I even use the washroom with my wheelchair?’ These were the basic barriers they feared,” Malik, one of India’s para-sports pioneers, says. Another time, another athlete confided in her: “Humein bekaar samajh liya gaya tha, bojha kehte the (they considered us good for nothing, called us a burden).”

These women, overcoming prejudice and accessibility issues, have propelled India to a place in the Paralympics where she has never been before. In a late-night podium assault on Tuesday, India’s para-athletes won four medals in 30 minutes to take the overall tally at the Paris Paralympics to 20 – one more than the country won in Tokyo three years ago. (READ MORE)

On Wednesday at the brilliant setting of Invalides in Paris, Harvinder Singh went where no Indian archer had gone before in the history of the Paralympics or Olympics. In a sport that has been synonymous with heartbreaks and missed opportunities over the years, Harvinder clinched gold in Para Archery – Men’s Individual Recurve Open event to take India’s medal tally to 22 at the Paris Paralympics 2024.

And Harvinder did so by saving his best for the last in the final against Poland’s Lukasz Ciszek. He shot 9, 9, 10 in Set 1. He shot 9, 9, 10 in Set 2. Then, with the finish line in sight, he shot 10, 10, 9. In recurve archery over 70m, to not shoot a single arrow outside the gold zone on the target was a stunning display of high-pressure matchplay. (READ MORE)

Amit Kumar Saroha remembers the day when a friend took him to meet then 23-year-old Dharambir Nain, who had been confined to his village home near Sonepat after a spinal cord injury.

“I told him: ‘Beta, has ke jiyenge toh zindagi aaram se kat jayegi. Agar ro ke jina hai, toh zindagi bahut lambi kategi (Son, if we live life with a smile, it will become easier. If we cry, then life will become longer and a burden),” Saroha recalls what he told the youngster who became Paralympic club throw champion in the French capital on Wednesday.

Praveen Kumar won India’s 6th gold medal at Paris Paralympics on Friday wins Men’s High Jump T64 category, check out India's position in the medals table HERE

The Parmar family from Sehore, Madhya Pradesh has known that with their son Kapil suffering from very low vision since an electricity line accident, his condition had been progressively deteriorating. And that there will come a day, when Kapil would lose his full vision.

But on Thursday evening they were full of hope. As the 24-year-old Kapil scored a 10-0 win over Elielton de Oliveira in the men’s judo J1 bronze medal playoff in the Paris Paralympics, his parents Ram Singh and Dhankunwar were watching the winning feat with pride. At their home near Bhopal Naka, Murali Road, it was time to celebrate. (READ MORE)

#Paralympics2024

Praveen Kumar won India’s 6th gold medal at Paris Paralympics when he topped the podium in the Men’s High Jump T64 event.

Check out his journey:https://t.co/EVzTsDQMsp

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) September 6, 2024

Praveen Kumar on Friday won India’s 6th gold medal at Paris Paralympics when he topped the podium in the Men’s High Jump T64 event.

USA’s Derek Loccident claimed the silver with a best jump of 2.06m. Poland’s Maciej Lepiato and Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov cleared 2.03m, finished joint third and won two bronze medals in this event.