Paris: Para-athlete Praveen Kumar made history by winning India’s sixth gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Competing in the Men’s High Jump T64 final, Praveen topped the podium with a stellar performance, continuing his rise as one of India’s top para-athletes.
In a closely contested event, USA’s Derek Loccident secured the silver with a best jump of 2.06 meters. Meanwhile, Poland’s Maciej Lepiato and Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov both cleared 2.03 meters, tying for third place and sharing bronze medals.
Praveen Kumar, hailing from Govindgarh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, had already made a name for himself at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, where he became the youngest para-athlete to win a medal for India. In that competition, he clinched a silver medal in the same event with an outstanding jump of 2.07 meters, marking the beginning of his career on the global stage.
Born with a congenital short leg, Praveen initially faced struggles with insecurity but found solace in sports, particularly volleyball, before discovering his passion for high jump. His talent was identified by Dr. Satyapal Singh, a renowned para-athletics coach, who encouraged him to focus on the high jump discipline. The mentorship paid off as Praveen quickly rose to prominence, claiming numerous titles on the international stage.
Praveen’s gold at the Paris Paralympics follows a series of impressive achievements. He won gold at the Asian Para Games in 2022, where he broke the Asian record with a 2.05-meter jump. Additionally, he claimed silver at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in 2019 in Nottwil, Switzerland, and set another Asian record at the FAZZA Grand Prix in Dubai in 2021.
In 2023, Praveen’s bronze-medal performance at the World Para Athletics Championships secured his spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where he once again proved his prowess in the sport.
Praveen’s victory not only adds another gold to India’s medal tally but also reinforces his position as a role model for para-athletes worldwide.