India’s high-flying hero, Sharad Kumar, produced a silver medal in the men’s high jump T63 class at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024.
A Silver so Close
At 1.88 meters, Sharad jumped so well that he almost grabbed gold. However the top spot was grabbed by USA’s Ezra Frech, who cleared an incredible 1.94 meters, setting a new Paralympic record in the process. Adding to the glittering collection of Sharad, this silver is in continuation of his bronze at Tokyo 2020. Talk about high stakes!
From Polio to Podium: The Sharad Kumar Saga
Sharad Kumar’s story reads like a movie script. Having polio at the tender age of two, one would think his chances were pretty slim. But not even close! Instead of staying grounded, Sharad defied expectations and soared high. His high jump dreams took to the air in his school days in Darjeeling, where he was already breaking records-even among able-bodied competitors. His international debut at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou marked only the beginning of this high-flying career.
Leaps and Bounds of Success
The career of Sharad is a plethora of very magnificent moments. He grabbed gold in the 2014 Asian Para Games, breaking a record that had stayed for 12 years and continually bagged silver in the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships. But wait-there’s more! Again, at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, he leaped a new Games and Continental record by 1.90 meters.
With an Arjuna Award presented to him in 2021, Sharad Kumar is not only jumping high but jumping straight into the hearts of fans all over!
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
