Para-Javelin Champion Sumit Antil Eyes 80-Meter Mark, Tests Skills in Able-Bodied Arenas

Sumit Antil, the celebrated para-javelin thrower, is setting his sights on new challenges, venturing into able-bodied competitions to push his limits and break the elusive 80-meter barrier.

Sumit Antil became the first Indian man to defend his Paralympics title (Reuters Photo)

Striving for More

"I am a bit bored. I am not getting the push from para-javelin anymore," confesses Sumit Antil, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist and world record holder in the F64 discipline. His dominance in the para-javelin circuit, marked by comfortable wins in Asian and world competitions, has led him to seek greater challenges.

Sources close to Antil reveal that the lack of competition has resulted in a performance plateau since 2023. Despite breaking the world record at the 2023 Asian Para Games with a throw of 73.29m, he hasn't surpassed that mark. This presents a hurdle for an athlete aiming to breach the 80-meter milestone, a feat yet to be achieved in para-javelin.

Venturing into New Territory

To reignite his passion, Sumit Antil has taken the initiative to compete in able-bodied events. He participated in the AtletiCAGeneve meet, a bronze-tier event on the World Athletics calendar, to test his mettle against competitors who regularly achieve greater distances.

He acknowledges the unfamiliar territory but embraces the challenge, stating, "I found a line that I need to cross... I realised in Geneva that I was lacking in technique and that was the whole reason behind participating in Geneva. I went there to learn, and I understood the deficiencies that I have."

Setting a New Goal

Antil's ambition extends beyond winning medals; his primary focus is to break the 80-meter barrier. "Competing with them was an inspiring thing for me as well, as my dream is not gold, but to throw 80m plus, which is considered as an impossible feat for any para-athlete in javelin," he asserts.

Encouraging Fellow Athletes

Sumit Antil encourages other para-athletes to participate in able-bodied competitions. He notes the vastly different environments and the mutual inspiration between athletes. His friend, high jumper Nishad Kumar, has also benefited from such experiences.

Focusing on Self-Improvement

Antil believes that competing in both para and able-bodied competitions involves the same core principle: self-improvement. "I don't think that there was a lot of difference between competing in para and able body, because I was concerned with my throws, like I always am. I do not bother about who is ahead of me, who is behind. But in able-bodied competition, I found throws that were much beyond me, people throwing 78-79m," he explains.

Future Plans

The Indian javelin star plans to participate in more able-bodied competitions, potentially moving up to gold-tier events and even the Diamond League. "100 per cent I am going to do more able-bodied competitions after para-world championships... In able body competitions I am not at the top, and that fires me up in competitions," Antil affirms.

Currently, Sumit Antil is focusing on recovery in preparation for the Para World Athletics Championships. His journey into uncharted territory may define the next chapter of his career and leave a lasting legacy in Indian sports history.