Two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil scripted history on Wednesday, setting a new world record in the F64 category. With a throw of 74.82 meters in his 5th attempt at the Indian Open Para Athletics Championships 2026 in Bengaluru, he added another 1.53 meters to his personal best – 73.29m, achieved at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.
“I was wondering why I wasn’t able to better it (World Record) in competition. It’s been so long, but today I came here just to do my personal best," Sumit was quoted as saying by the Bridge after his world record.
“I’m happy that I improved my mark by 1.5m and hope that my team and I will continue to do better at the upcoming Para Asian Games," he added.
Sumit has now broken the world record 7 times, turning the F64 javelin event into a personal masterclass. Let’s have a look at how each time the 27-year-old bettered himself at the highest level.
Here’s a clean, pointer-style version with the distances clearly highlighted:
1. June 2019: 60.45 m at World Para Athletics Grand Prix, Italy
Sumit announced himself on the international stage with his first world record, securing a silver medal in a combined event.
2. November 2019: 62.88 m at World Para Athletics Championships, Dubai
He bettered his own mark by over two metres, clinched another silver, and qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics.
3. March 2021: 66.90 m National Para Athletics Championships, Bengaluru
Sumit continued his upward curve on home soil, setting a new world record ahead of the Paralympics.
4. August 2021: 68.55 m at Tokyo Paralympics
A historic final where he broke the world record three times in one event, with throws of 66.95 m, 68.08 m, and 68.55 m, en route to gold.
5. July 2023: 70.83 m at World Para Athletics Championships, Paris
Sumit breached the 70-metre mark for the first time, winning gold with a dominant performance.
6. October 2023: 73.29 m at Asian Para Games, Hangzhou
Sumit delivered a massive throw to extend his world record by nearly 2.5 metres and clinch gold.
7. May 2026: 74.82m at Indian Open Para Athletics Championships, Bengaluru
His latest and seventh world record, achieved after returning from injury, marking his best-ever throw.
Source: India Today