30 September,2025 09:55 AM IST | New Delhi | Jaspreet Singh
India’s Rinku Hooda during the final of the javelin throw F46 event at the World Para Athletics C’ships in New Delhi on Monday. Pic/PTI
Rinku Hooda was among the favourites for gold in the men's javelin throw F64 final on Day Three of the World Para Athletics Championships [WPAC] here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday. But standing in his way was compatriot and world record holder Sundar Singh Gurjar, closely followed by Ajeet Singh as the third Indian in the final.
In a stiff competition that had all 11 throwers registering either a personal best or season best, Hooda summoned that extra ounce of energy to throw the spear 66.37m on his fourth attempt. It turned out to be a new Championship record and enough for the 26-year-old from Rohtak to clinch his first gold at the world level and be crowned world champion.
The delight doubled for India as Gurjar too finished on the podium, winning silver with his season-best effort of 64.76m on his fifth attempt. It could have been a podium sweep for India, but Ajeet's 61.77m was left behind by the bronze medallist from Cuba, Guillermo Varona Gonzalez, who registered 63.34m for a third-place finish.
"When I was warming up, I felt that the body was in good rhythm and it could be my day," said a visibly elated Hooda, who finished with a silver medal in the previous edition of WPAC in Paris. Rinku was just three years old when his left arm was trapped in a paddy machine in his village, Dhamar, near Rohtak in Haryana. For the next few years, he was almost not aware of his disability and won medals in sprint events at various district and state-level events.
As the story goes, he was inspired by the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Bollywood hit, Chak de India, to take up sports seriously.
Thirteen years later, he stood on top of the runway with a javelin in his hand at the Rio Paralympics as India's youngest Paralympian. "I played at Rio as a 16-year-old, and today my family and close relatives and friends were all in the stands to support me. And I managed to change the colour of my [WPAC] medal," said Hooda.
Sundar, meanwhile, held the world record in the event at 68.60, and said he hadn't lost hope till the end to go past Hooda. However, he admitted a residual injury in the elbow and shoulder area somewhat restricted him.
"It's better, but I am still having a cervical problem in the elbow and shoulder area," said the bronze medallist from the last two Paralympics and former world champion. The gold and silver on the third day of competition kept India at No. 6 on the medals tally with a total of five medals (2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze). China leads the table with 4 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze.
Other India Results
Men's Shot-Put F53 Final: Ayush Verma, 5th (7.23m)
Men's Shot-Put F40 Final: Ravi Rangoli, 5th (10.10m)
Women's Discus Throw F64 Final: Dayawanti, 4th (27.94m)
Men's Long Jump T63 Final: Mahendra Gurjar: Eliminated after three foul attempts
Women's club throw F32 qualification: Anandhi Kulanthaisamy, 8th (13.03m) - failed to qualify
