Paris: Dharambir shattered the Asian record in men’s club throw F51 event en route to India’s fifth gold medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 on Thursday while his compatriot Pranav Soorma clinched silver as the Indian’s dominated the event in the French capital. Dharambir, whose first four attempts were foul throws, produced one of the greatest comebacks at the Games in Paris as the 35-year-old hurled his club to a distance of 34.92m in his fifth attempt to win the top spot on the podium.
Soorma, who injured his spinal chord at 16 when a cement sheet fell on his head, then produced a throw of 34.59m in his first attempt but the 29-year-old from Faridabad couldn’t better and get past Dharambir as India completed a one-two. The third Indian in the fray, 2017 world championship silver medallist, trailblazing Indian para-athlete and Dharmbir’s mentor Amit Kumar Saroha, however, finished last with a best effort of 23.96m.
Serbia’s Filip Graovac bagged the bronze, courtesy a 34.18m throw in his second attempt. The F51 club throw event is for athletes who have movement affected to a high degree in the trunk, legs and hands. All the competitors compete while seated and rely on their shoulders and arm to generate power.
Hailing from Sonipat, Dharambir’s life took a dramatic turn while diving in a canal in his village. He misjudged the water’s depth, crashing into the underlying rocks. This unfortunate incident resulted in paralysis from the waist down, significantly altering his life trajectory. In 2014, Dharambir discovered para-sports, which opened new avenues for him. He began training in club throw under the mentorship of Amit Kumar Saroha, a fellow para athlete who shares a similar condition.
With dedication and hard work, Dharambir made remarkable progress in just two years, achieving the qualification for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Since then, Dharambir has consistently demonstrated exceptional form, earning numerous medals for India.
Most recently, he secured a silver medal at the Asian Para Games 2022. In recognition of his outstanding performances in national and international competitions, Dharambir was honored with the Bhim Award in 2022, the highest sports honor awarded by the Government of Haryana.’
For Pranav, doctors told him he would never walk again after his accident, and spent six months in the hospital. It took several years for Pranav to accept that a wheelchair would be his lifelong companion. However, his indomitable spirit and ‘do not quit’ attitude helped him make the best of his situation.
To maintain a positive mindset, Pranav began meditating. While in the hospital, friends introduced him to para sports, igniting a new passion. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Pranav excelled academically, scoring 91.2 percent in his 12th board exams and pursuing a postgraduate degree in commerce from the prestigious Delhi School of Economics. He later secured a job as an Assistant Manager at the Bank of Baroda.
He experimented with different para sports and even participated in the Mr. Wheelchair India event before finding his true passion in para athletics. Pranav’s dedication to training paid off as he competed at state, national, and international levels in para sports. His achievements include a silver medal at the 2019 Beijing Grand Prix, a gold medal at the Serbia Open 2023, and both gold and silver medals at the Tunisia Grand Prix 2022. At the Asian Para Games 2023, Pranav set a record with a 30.01m throw in the men’s club throw F51 event, earning a gold medal.
