Tokyo Paralympics: Yogesh Kathuniya wins silver in men’s discus throw, draws praise from PM Narendra Modi

Son of an Army man, Yogesh Kathuniya suffered a paralytic attack at the age of eight which left him with coordination impairments in his limbs.

Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya clinched a silver medal in the men’s F56 event in the Paralympics in Tokyo on Monday (August 30) as athletics remained India's happy hunting ground at the Games. The 24-year-old, a B.Com graduate from New Delhi’s Kirorimal College, sent the disc to a best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver. On Sunday, India had picked up a silver (high jump) and a bronze (discus throw), which is on hold due to a protest. Son of an Army man, Kathuniya suffered a paralytic attack at the age of eight which left him with coordination impairments in his limbs. Brazil’s defending champion, reigning world champion and world record holder Claudiney Batista dos Santos won the gold with a best throw of 45.59m while Leonardo Diaz Aldana (43.36m) of Cuba took the bronze. PM Narendra Modi called it an ‘outstanding performance’ and said it will motivate ‘budding athletes’. “Outstanding performance by Yogesh Kathuniya. Delighted that he brings home the Silver medal. His exemplary success will motivate budding athletes. Congrats to him. Wishing him the very best for his future endeavours,” Modi tweeted.