Jhajharia dedicates silver to late father

Not being there with his cancer-stricken father during his dying moments last year still rankles Devendra Jhajharia, who on Monday dedicated his third Paralympic medal to the man without whose encouragement, he wouldn’t have competed at the ongoing Games.

The 40-year-old javelin thrower, already India’s greatest Paralympian after winning gold medals in the 2004 and 2016 haria) who had wanted me to win another medal in the Paralympics,” Jhajharia said.

F46 classification is for athletes with arm deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in arms. Jhajharia makes this cut owing to the left hand he lost after being electrocuted as an eight-year-old. Jhajharia came to know about his father’s illness while he was training at SAI, Gandhinagar last year.

He rushed home but his father sent him back to continue hard and win another medal. I am happy that today I have fulfilled his dream.” His father’s death, at the time of which he was training, left him shattered and he was seen crying after winning a national level event. On Monday, although he bettered his own earlier world record (63.97m) but gold winner Sri Lankan Dinesh Priyan Herath Mudiyanselage (67.79m) was too good for the entire field.

He said he gave his best but admitted that it was the Sri Lankan’s day. ing from the sport after ongoing Games but on the he wanted to simply savou triumph.

Asked what the future h and whether he will be in Asian Para Games in Hangz in China, he said, “My com tion in the Paralympics is over and I can’t think of o things now.” “I will decide returning home. I will talk t family and my coach and ma plan.” Prime Minister Nare Modi talked to him on ph after his silver-winning feat