Tokyo: While the entire nation was celebrating Avani Lekhara’s first Paralympic gold, discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya won a silver medal in the men’s F56 category in Tokyo on Monday.
Kathuniya trained for the Paralympic Games without a coach and is quite proud to have finished on the podium without any tangible guidance for over a year now. The 24-year-old hurled the disc to the best distance of 44.38m in his sixth and last attempt to clinch the silver.
“That was amazing. Winning the silver has given me so much more motivation to get the gold medal at Paris 2024,” Kathuniya told reporters in the mixed zone. Kathuniya admitted that preparing for the Games was difficult for him because lockdown forced him to close facilities for the better part of the last two years.
“In the last 18 months, the preparations have been very tough. In India there was a six-month lockdown so every stadium was closed,” he said. “When I could return to the stadium on a daily basis I had to practice by myself. I couldn’t have a coach then and I am still training without a coach. It was a great moment that I could win the silver medal without a coach,” he added.
Kathuniya, the son of an Army officer, suffered a paralytic attack when he was eight years old, leaving him with limb coordination issues. On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Kathuniya.
“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 endeavors,” PM Narendra Modi wrote.
Claudiney Batista dos Santos of Brazil won gold with a best throw of 45.59 meters, while Leonardo Diaz Aldana of Cuba got bronze with a throw of 43.36 meters.
