Sumit Antil retains javelin title in Nagoya as India sweep podium in combined F42-44/F61-64 event
Sumit Antil defended his javelin crown for India at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Friday, 23 October 2026, winning the combined F42-44/F61-64 event for the host competition.
"My approach is to focus on one throw at a time and give each attempt my complete attention. I try to keep the focus on my own preparation rather than on what people are expecting from me. Expectations are natural when you have performed well in the past, but they cannot be allowed to become a distraction. "I know the work I have put in, and I know what I need to do when I step into the competition. For me, the biggest competition is always with myself, trying to improve my own performance." Sumit Antil had these words to say, as quoted by Hindustan Times, when he headed to Nagoya with the aim of defending his crown; the 28-year-old has previously broken a world record and then bettered it over the last few years.
Antil secured the gold medal with a best throw of 72.46m, produced on his second attempt, in the combined F42-44/F61-64 competition in Nagoya.
The two-time Paralympic champion and world record holder was described as dominating the men's javelin throw event in the F64 category, and his 72.46m effort was enough to claim another continental title despite falling short of his personal best on Friday.
India completed a podium sweep in the event, with Mahendra Gurjar taking silver after registering 59.03m and Sandip Sanjay Sargar finishing third with a throw of 64.48m.
Gurjar competes in the F42 classification and finished ahead of Sargar, an F44 athlete, after the combined-event standings were determined using RAZA points; the scoring system accounts for differences between classifications to establish the final rankings.
Antil had previously won gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games with a mark of 73.29m and raised his own benchmark to 74.82m in May this year, figures cited in Nagoya coverage that put his 72.46m performance in context.
The result in Nagoya awarded Antil another continental title and completed an Indian clean sweep of medals in the combined F42-44/F61-64 javelin event.
