India clinches another 1-2 in javelin at Para Worlds as Sandip Sargar wins F44 gold

India secured another 1-2 finish in javelin at the 2025 Para Worlds, with Sandip Sargar winning gold and Sandeep Chaudhary taking silver in the F44 category. Inspired by Monday’s winners, Sargar overcame weather challenges to deliver a personal-best performance

Hyderabad: Another day, another 1-2 finish for India in javelin at the ongoing IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

After Rinku and Sundar Singh Gurjar clinched gold and silver in the F46 category on Monday, it was Sandip Sanjay Sargar and Sandeep Chaudhary who emulated them in the F44 category on Tuesday.

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Sargar admitted that Rinku and Gurjar’s performance was at the back of his mind and revealed he was in the stands watching their glory unfold.
“I was here yesterday to get the hang of the whole thing — the atmosphere, the people shouting encouragement. That helped me today,” said the Maharashtra athlete after clinching gold.

Sargar matched his personal best with a throw of 62.82m in his fifth attempt, though he had already taken the lead with a 62.68m throw earlier. It was Sandeep Chaudhary of Rajasthan who set the tone with an opening throw of 62.33m, later bettering it to 62.67m. But Sargar proved too strong in the final round.

Heavy afternoon showers brought down temperatures considerably. While the weather offered relief to spectators, it posed a challenge for Sargar.
“Rain and cool weather didn’t help me. I could have done better. Warm weather helps loosen up the muscles,” said Sargar, who trains at SAI Sonepat and is part of the TOPS Core group.

Draped in the tricolour, Sargar remained modest.
“I was sure there would be a medal for me. Winning it for your country is a great feeling,” he said.

Interestingly, while the cold impacted Sargar, it played to Chaudhary’s advantage. A gold medallist in the Dubai and Kobe World Championships in 2019 and 2024 respectively (in the F64 category), Chaudhary credited the Bengaluru-like weather for his performance.

“I trained in Bengaluru and the temperature here was similar. I guess it worked in my favour. I’m very happy to win a medal for the country,” he said.

Sargar’s gold was India’s third of the championship. Not long after, Sumit added a fourth in the F64 category.

On Monday, Rinku’s family and friends had turned up in large numbers, making a three-hour journey from their village in Rohtak. Their presence, he admitted, was a huge motivator. Sargar, however, had no such support in the stands.

“There was no one in the stands — no family or friends. But I was still motivated to do well,” said the shy athlete, who once worked as a Zomato delivery boy in Pune.