Paris Paralympics 2024: India gets 21st medal, Sachin Khilari wins silver in shot put

India's impressive run continued in the Paris Paralympics, after hitting the bedpost on Tuesday with 20 medals, as the Indian challenge began with silver again on Wednesday. Sachin Khilari won his silver in the men's F46 shot put event in the category of a new Asian record of 16.32m.

Khilari finished second behind Canada's Greg Stewart whose best throw was 16.38m, his best performance of the season. Among other Indian's Mohammad Yasser (14.21m) and Rohit Kumar (14.10m) were placed eighth and ninth, respectively, ñ he added.

The reigning world champion Sachin had earlier created an Asian record with a throw of 16.30 m during the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan in May. Born in a humble farming family, Sachin Khilari belongs to Kargani village in the Sangli district of Maharashtra. A victim of an accident in school, the athlete became disabled thereafter.

Also, Sachin has excelled in sports as well as in studies, being a Mechanical Engineer. He is a visiting faculty across several educational institutions to guide students for their MPSC and UPSC examinations.

If we look at Khilari's previous achievements, he has - an Asian Para Games (2022) gold medal, a World Para Athletics Championship (2024) gold medal, a World Para Athletics Championship (2023) gold medal with Asia record, (2023) - a gold medal with Asia record. He has won the gold medal five times in the National Para Athletics Championships.

India now has a total of 21 medals, two more than the medals won at the Tokyo Para Games. India currently has three gold, eight silver, and ten bronze medals, placing it 19th in the medal tally.