Yogesh Kathuniya Wins Silver In Men’s Discus Throw F56

India’s Yogesh Kathuniya won the silver medal in the men’s discus throw F56 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics on September 2. The 27-year-old Indian para-athlete secured the medal with his season-best throw of 42.22m in the final. Brazil’s Claudiney Batista took gold with a Paralympic record of 46.86m while Konstantinos Tzounis of Greece completed the podium with an effort of 41.32m.

Yogesh Kathuniya’s second Paralympic medal

This was Yogesh Kathuniya’s second Paralympic medal. He won the silver medal at Tokyo 2020 with a best attempt of 44.38m. Batista won the gold medal at Tokyo 2020 as well with the then Paralympic record of 45.59m.

Three-time Para World Championships medallist

Yogesh is also a three-time Para World Championships medallist and a silver medal winner at the Asian Para Games last year in the same F56 category. The F56 is part of the sports classes where athletes compete in a wheelchair or throwing chair due to impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference.

Athletes in the F56 class

Athletes in the F56 class can partially bend their hips and legs in addition to having trunk function. This was India’s eighth medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and fourth in athletics. Preethi Pal won bronze medals in the 100m and 200m T35 class events before Nishad Kumar won the silver medal in the men’s high jump T47 class.