India clinch 13 medals in the Asian Para Games at Jakarta

India clinch 13 medals - one gold, four silver and eight bronze in the Asian Para Games at Jakarta yesterday. India took over the podium in men's high jump T42/63 category, claiming all the medals up for grabs with defending champion Sharad Kumar smashing two records to snare a second successive gold. 

The 26-year old world champions silver-medallist bettered the Asian as well as the Games record with a jump of 1.90 meters to claim the top honours. 

The T42/63 covers lowwer limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power and impaired range of movement. The silver was claimed by Rio Paralympic bronze-medallist Varun Bhati and the bronze went to the Rio gold-medallist Thangavelu Mariyappan.

 

Earlier, Javelin thrower Sundar Singh Gurjar won a silver medal in the men's F46 category in which two-time Paralympic gold medalist Devendra Jhajharia finished fourth. In the same event, Rinku picked up a bronze medal to make it an India-dominated podium.  The F46 category of disability covers upper limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired range of



movement. 

In Javelin throw, Gurjar notched up his silver with an effort of 61.33 meters in his fifth attempt.  Rinku recorded a personal best of 60.92 meters for the bronze.  In the men's 400 meters race, Avnil Kumar clocked 52 seconds to fetch a bronze.

 

Medals tumbled for India in other track and field events as well with Anandan Gunasekaran claiming the men's 400 meters silver in the T44, 62/64 classification, while Vinay Kumar settled for a bronze. In the T45/46/47 classification for men's 400 meters, Sandeep Maan fetched a bronze medal.  Jayanti Behera clinched the women's 400 meters silver in the T45/46/47 classificastion.  

Both the classifications deal with the upper limb deficiencies and leg length difference.  In the women's 400 meters classification that deals with visual impairment (T12), Radha Venkatesh took the bronze medal.

 

In swimming, India fetched a bronze with Swapnil Pastil finishing third in the men's 400 meters frestyle S10.  The S10 category covers visual impairment.