Sumit Antil's journey:
Sumit Antil is not only the name of a paralympic player but also a name that brings sheer determination. His journey serves as a testament to overcoming all obstacles in life. We have seen many heroes in the Olympics, but here is the story of the man of determination who made a great stamp in the Indian athletes' history—who gave 200% for his dream. Let us delve into the story of Sumit Antil, whose dedication and resilience inspire us to achieve our goals.
Sumit Antil, an Indian Paralympi
an player and javelin thrower, was born on 7th June 1998 in Khewra, Haryana, to Nirmala Devi and Ramkumar Antil. Seeing his father working for the Indian Air Force, Sumit, at an early age, decided to serve the country by joining the Indian army. But unfortunately, he lost his dad at the age of 7, and his mother stood as a rock to complete his dream of serving the country. He always dreamed of being a wrestler in his teenage years and worked hard for it, but God has other plans for him. At the age of 17, while returning from tuition, a speed truck hit his motorcycle, which led to the amputation of his left leg before the knee. With this incident, he almost lost the will to live and felt devastated.
Did he give up on life? NO…
His setback didn't stop him from coming back. He bounced back just like the ball that hit the ground and made his name etched in the sports book of India. With the help of the GoSports Foundation, he found his way to the Paralympics. He was introduced by Rajkumar, one of the paralympic players, to the para-athletes and fixed his spot at the foundation.
What he did after securing a place in the Paralympics team is an example of complete dedication and hard work.
He broke the world record in the javelin throw (F64) category in 2019 at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix that happened in Italy and won a silver medal. In the same year, he participated in the World Paralympic Grand Prix that happened in Dubai, and there he also won a silver medal by breaking his record. This led to finding a spot in the Tokyo Summer Olympics that happened in the year 2020. On August 30, 2021, he broke his record again with a 68.55 m throw by winning the gold medal. He is an asset to the country. Even though his leg was amputated, he still worked for his dream. This determination toward his dream made him participate in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, a prestigious sports event, for the second time in his life.
Awards:
In the year 2020, he won the Khel Ratna Award (the highest and most prestigious award for a sportsperson in India) for his continuous contribution to the sport. In the year 2022, he was also awarded the Padma Shri (highest civilian award) for his great determination and stubbornness towards life. Life didn't stop there; in the year 2024, he was awarded the Sportsman of the Year (Paralympics) and also found his place in the Forbes 30 under 30. The great icon now won another gold for India. it was his 3rd gold in the Paralympics. Let us wish our beloved Sumit and wish him all the luck in his way for the future.
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