RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 14: India�s Devendra Jhajharia cemented his legend status as he bettered his own world record to win the gold medal in the men�s javelin throw F46 event at the ongoing 2016 Rio Paralympics.
Jhajharia also won the gold medal in the javelin event at the 2004 Athens Paralympics with a record throw of 62.15 metres, becoming only the second gold medallist at the Paralympics for his country, and on Tuesday improved upon the mark with a throw of 63.97 metres at the Olympic Stadium (Engenhao) here.
Jhajharia set the new benchmark in his third attempt. The 36-year-old is currently ranked third in the world in this category and is likely to become World No 1 after his latest world record setting gold medal feat.
World No 1 China�s Chunliang Guo claimed silver with a throw of 59.93 metres followed by Sri Lanka�s Dinesh Herath Priyantha, with a personal best mark of 58.23. All attempted the throw six times.
Jhajharia started with an effort of 57.25 metres and improved it in the second attempt with a throw of 60.70m before hurling the javelin that went to the historic mark of 63.97m � the throw that eventually sealed his gold medal. He competed in the event alongside fellow Indians Rinku Hooda and Sundar Singh Gurjar.
Rinku finished fifth with a personal best of 54.39m, in six attempts while Sundar Singh Gurjar didn�t start the event.
Jhajharia, who is from Churu district in Rajasthan, took India�s tally at this edition of the Paralympics to four medals � two gold, one silver and a bronze.
The Rajasthan born, with an amputated left hand, was chosen as a recipient of the 2004 Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri in 2012, becoming the first Paralympian to be receiving the honour.
Jhajharia was electrocuted while climbing a tree at the tender age of eight and his left hand had to be amputated. But that didn�t deter him from pursuing his dreams.
Jhajharia feels it is his �willpower� which kept him going despite all the hardships. � IANS
