Yogesh Kathuniya, Indias silver-winning discus thrower at Tokyo Paralympics

Discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya on Monday won a silver medal in the F56 classification in the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics as India surpassed its best-ever medal haul the Games on Monday. 

The 24-year-old secured his medal with a season-best performance, thorowing his disc a distance of 44.38m in his sixth and final attempt. 

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Brazil’s Claudiney Batista dos Santos, who won gold at the 206 Rio Paralympics and is also the world champion as well as the world record holder, retained his gold with a best throw of 45.59m. Cuba’s Leonardo Diaz Aldana secured bronze with a throw of 43.36m. 

In F56 classification, athletes have full arm and trunk muscle power. Pelvic stability is provided by some to full ability to press the knees together.

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Who is Yogesh Kathuniya?

The son of an Army man, Kathuniya suffered a paralytic attack at the age of eight, which left him with coordination impairment in his limbs. He is a B.Com graduate from New Delhi’s Kirori Mal College and it was during his time at the here that his potential was noticed by several coaches. 

He soon started training under the tutelage of Satyapal Singh – who was conferred the Dronacharya Award in 2012 for his contributions as a coach – at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. 

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After a number of years under Satyapal Singh, Kathuniya came under the guidance of coach Naval Singh. 

Kathuniya set a world record in the F36 category in his maiden international competition in 2018 at the Para-athletics Grand Prix in Berlin.

He also won a bronze medal at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai with a best throw of 42.51m, which also saw him qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.