List of new world records created by India at Asian Para Games 2023

Three world records in two sports were broken.

Some call it the golden era for athletes in India, as the nation aims to attain heights which wasn't even imagined a couple of decades ago. Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics started it off and it has continued in Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games 2023 with medals coming showering down. India in its 111-medal tally run shattered a few world records in the recently concluded quadrennial extravaganza.

Here is a look at the list of world records set by Indian athletes at the Asian Para Games 2023.

Sumit Antil

In the men's javelin throw F64 category, reigning Paralympic champion Sumit Antil set the global record, making it a record-breaking event for India at the Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China. The 25-year-old shattered his own world record which he created when he won the gold at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris earlier this year.

Sumit comfortably surpassed his own Games Record of 56.29 m, which he had achieved in Jakarta in 2018 with his first throw of 66.22 m.

His second throw, which was registered at 70.48m, fell just short of the world record of 70.83m that he set earlier this year in Paris during the World Para Athletics Championships. In his third try, he finally broke that record with a huge throw of 73.29 m.

With a quota already set for the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, Antil will try to defend his championship in Tokyo. With a throw of 68.55 m, the world record at the time, Antil won gold in the men's F-64 javelin competition at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Sundar Singh Gurjar

Sundar Singh Gurjar led an all-Indian podium in the men's javelin F46 competition. In his first try, Sundar threw 63.05m. He was still leading at the top even after committing a foul in his second try. He performed much better on his third throw, measuring 66.21 m.

Even though he was still leading, his countryman Rinku gave him a scare with a throw that measured 67.08 m on his last try. Gurjar Singh was forced to settle for second place before his last throw, and he only made one last effort to surpass 67.08m.

When the going got tough, the tough in the 27-year-old thrower got going. He set a world record and won the gold medal as his spear traveled a whopping 68.6m to take the yellow metal. With a distance of 67.79m, Herath Mudiyanselage Dinesh of Sri Lanka had previously held the record.

The Rajasthan-born Paralympian will have his eye on repeating the feat in Paris 2024. India missed out on gold in the Tokyo Paralympics as Devendra Jhajharia and Sundar took the silver and bronze respectively.

Rakesh Kumar and Suraj Singh

The duo of Rakesh Kumar and Suraj Singh broke the world record in the men's doubles compound archery event. In the quarter-final match against the Philippines, the pair put up a stellar performance with a string of perfect hits to the targets. They scored 158 points of the total 160, making history at the Asian Para Games 2023.

This feat raised huge hopes for a gold medal finish and pair continued their impressive form in the semifinals by defeating Chinese Taipei 154-152. The battle for the gold medal match was between the India and hosts China's He Zihao and Ai Xinliang.

The home team were up for the task against the world record holders. As a result the Indians had to take home the silver medal only after losing with a scoreline of 150-155.