Praveen Kumar clinches silver in men’s T64 high jump in Paralympics

The 18-year-old Kumar, competing in his debut Paralympics, set a new Asian record with a 2.07m jump to finish behind Great Britain's Jonathan Broom-Edwards, who notched up his season's best of 2.10m for the gold.

The 18-year-old Kumar, competing in his debut Paralympics. (Twitter)

India’s Praveen Kumar clinched the silver medal in the men’s high jump T64 event of the Paralympics, taking the country’s haul to 11 in the ongoing Games here.

The 18-year-old Kumar, competing in his debut Paralympics, set a new Asian record with a 2.07m jump to finish behind Great Britain’s Jonathan Broom-Edwards, who notched up his season’s best of 2.10m for the gold.

Silver Medalist, Praveen Kumar receives a congratulatory call from Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi after creating history by becoming the youngest Indian to win a medal at #Paralympics

Hon'ble PM also congratulated his Coach, Dr. Satyapal Singh#Cheer4India #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/GLfrqADvO0

— SAI Media (@Media_SAI) September 3, 2021

The bronze went to Rio Games champion Maciej Lepiato of Poland who produced an effort of 2.04m.

T64 classification is for athletes with a leg amputation, who compete with prosthetics in a standing position.

🇮🇳🥈SILVER FOR INDIA! #PraveenKumar wins the 🥈 in the Men’s High Jump T64 final with a jump of 2.07 m, creating a new Asian Record.

This is India’s 1️⃣1️⃣th medal at the Tokyo #Paralympics #Praise4Para #IND #Cheer4India #TeamIndia #Tokyo2020 #mariyappan #sportwalk pic.twitter.com/Wru8LgqWl9

— Sportwalk Bytes IN 🇮🇳 (@SportwalkIndia) September 3, 2021

T44, the disability classification that Kumar has but is eligible to compete in T64, is for athletes with a leg deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in the legs.

His impairment, which is congenital, affects the bones that connect his hip to his left leg.

Congratulations to Praveen Kumar on winning the silver medal in the Men’s High Jump T64 final with a jump of 2.07 m, creating a new Asian Record.
This is India’s 11th medal at the #Tokyo2020 #Paralympics #Praise4Para #Cheer4India #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/f6IzoWAgOR

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 3, 2021

The ongoing Games are turning out to be India’s best ever and the nation has so far claimed two gold, six silver and three bronze medals.