In his fifth attempt, Dharambir threw the club 34.92 meters, while Soorma threw it 34.59 meters
A one-two Indian sweep was achieved at the Paris Paralympics as Pranav Soorma and Dharambir won gold and silver in the men’s club throw F51 event. Dharambir broke the Asian record with his best throw of 34.92m in his fifth attempt. He took silver as Indians locked out the top two in the event with a throw of 34.59m on his first attempt. Serbia’s Filip Graovac took bronze with a second attempt throw of 34.18m.
With these two medals, India has risen from 13th to 13th on the Paris Paralympics standings. India’s total number of medals at these Games is 24. Soorma is India’s ninth silver medallist, while Dharambir is the fifth Indian to win gold. The third Indian, Amit Kumar Saroha, is the mentor of Dharambir and the silver medallist from the 2017 world championships. He finished last, however, with a best effort of 23.96m.
All athletes compete while seated and rely on their shoulders and arms to generate power in the F51 event.
After four fouled attempts, a record was set
In his next throw, Dharambir broke the Asian record and took the top spot. The 35-year-old had won bronze this year at the world championships in Kobe, Japan.
During his dive into a canal, Dharambir misjudged and was paralyzed from the waist down. Saroha introduced him to para-athletics, and he qualified for the Rio Paralympics in 2016. At the Rio Paralympics, he finished ninth and at the Tokyo Paralympics, he finished eighth.
In early 2022, Dharambir won silver at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. As a result of his outstanding performances in national and international competitions, Dharambir was honored with the Government of Haryana’s highest sports honor in 2022, the Bhim Award.
A cement sheet fell on Soorma’s head, causing a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. He spent six months in the hospital with doctors telling him he might never walk again. While in the hospital, he was introduced to para sports by his friends.
Pranav’s academic performance was outstanding, achieving a remarkable score of 91.2 percent in his 12th board exams and pursuing a postgraduate degree in commerce from the well-known Delhi School of Economics. His professional success led him to secure a job as an Assistant Manager at the Bank of Baroda. In addition to his love for cricket and roller hockey, Pranav also rediscovered his passion for sports in a wheelchair. He has an impressive track record, including a silver medal at the 2019 Beijing Grand Prix, winning gold at the Serbia Open 2023, and both gold and silver medals at the Tunisia Grand Prix 2022. Most recently, at the Asian Para Games 2023, Pranav broke records with a throw of 30.01m in the men’s club throw F51 event, earning himself a well-deserved gold medal.
