India’s Sachin Sarjerao Khilari secured a silver medal in the men’s shot put F46 event at the ongoing Paralympic Games on Wednesday, adding to his impressive list of accolades. Khilari, 34, achieved an Asian record distance of 16.32 meters, surpassing his previous record of 16.30 meters set earlier this year at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Japan.
Khilari’s throw came in his second attempt, solidifying his place among the world’s elite para-athletes. Despite his strong performance, Khilari narrowly missed out on the gold, which was claimed by Canada’s Greg Stewart, who defended his Tokyo Paralympic title with a throw of 16.38 meters. Croatia’s Luka Bakovic took home the bronze with a throw of 16.27 meters.
This silver medal marks Khilari’s 11th contribution to India’s medal tally in para-athletics at the ongoing Games. He has consistently showcased his talent on the international stage, having also won gold in last year’s Asian Para Games in China.
Competing in the F46 classification, Khilari, who has an impaired left hand, competes in a standing position. This category is designated for athletes with arm deficiencies, impaired muscle power, or impaired passive range of movement in their arms.