Yogesh Kathuniya Wins Silver in Men's Discus Throw at Paris 2024 Paralympics

New Delhi: Yogesh Kathuniya clinched the silver medal in the men's discus throw F56 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, held at Stade de France on Monday. This marks India’s eighth medal at the Paralympic Games.

The 27-year-old athlete achieved a best throw of 42.22 meters, which was his season's best performance. Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos secured the gold with a Paralympic record throw of 46.86 meters, while Greece’s Konstantinos Tzounis took the bronze with a throw of 41.32 meters. Slovakia's Dušan Lacžko finished just off the podium in fourth place with a 41.20-meter throw. Notably, Serbia’s Nebojsa Duric, despite qualifying, did not compete in the final.

Kathuniya started strong, surpassing his previous season's best with his initial throws. His 42.22-meter effort placed him behind Brazil’s dos Santos in second place.

Despite his solid start, Kathuniya was unable to surpass the Brazilian athlete, as his throw distances gradually decreased. After two throws beyond 41 meters, his subsequent attempts fell into the 40-meter range, with his final throw landing at 39.68 meters.

Tzounis, who was trailing in the rankings, managed a best throw of 41.32 meters on his fifth attempt, securing the bronze medal in the competition.