HIGHLIGHTS

• Vinod Kumar had finished third in the men’s F52 discus throw final on Aug. 30
• But organisers have found Vinod Kumar “ineligible” in disability classification assessment
• Vinod’s medal was India’s third on a blockbuster day 5 in which the country bagged two silvers and a bronze

There is some bad news in story for Indian athletics fans as discus thrower Vinod Kumar has been found ‘ineligible’ in disability classification assessment and therefore, will have to give up his bronze medal that he clinched in the men’s F52 discus throw event on Sunday.

The victory ceremony for the event was postponed as the final results were under review due to classification observation. Vinod’s classification in F52, which is for athletes with impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference, was done on August 22 by the organisers.

Vinod, whose father fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, produced a best throw of 19.91m to finish third behind Piotr Kosewicz (20.02m) of Poland and Velimir Sandor (19.98m) of Croatia.

Vinod, an ex-BSF jawan suffered an unfortunate accident that left him paralyzed and bed-ridden for more than a decade. Vinod had overcome numerous challenges before he finally came across his true destiny, para-sports.

Taking inspiration from Indian Paralympians at Rio 2016, he decided to take up sports & soon began training.

Vinod’s medal was India’s third on a blockbuster day 5 in which the country bagged two silvers and a bronze. The nation surpassed its best-ever tally on Monday when Avani Lekhara won a historic gold medal in the women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 final. The 19-year-old became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic or an Olympic gold medal in the country’s history.

It was shortly followed by winning a silver medal in the Men’s Discus F56 event. Legendary Devendra Jhajharia then went on to win a silver medal in Men’s Javelin F46 event. Sundar Singh took the bronze to complete his redemption in the same event.