Praveen Kumar clinched India’s sixth gold medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024 on September 6. He won the gold in the Men’s High Jump T64, converting his silver medal from the Tokyo Paralympics into gold.
Kumar achieved his best jump of 2.08 meters, breaking the Asian record in the process. Derek Loccident of the USA secured the silver medal with a 2.06-meter jump, while Temurbek Giyazov of Uzbekistan earned the bronze with a 2.03-meter jump.
Who is Praveen Kumar?
Praveen Kumar was born into a Jat family in Gautam Budh Nagar district, Uttar Pradesh. Along with two Paralympic medals, he also won a gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2022.
Praveen faced many obstacles on his path to becoming a para-athlete. Due to a limb difference at birth, he initially felt inadequate compared to his classmates. He played sports with friends to overcome his fears and developed a liking for volleyball. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he competed in a high jump event at an able-bodied athletics competition and saw the opportunities available for athletes with disabilities.
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Praveen Kumar’s Achievement
- Tokyo Paralympics (2020) – Silver Medal
- Asian Para Games (2022) – Gold Medal (AR)
- World Para Athletics Championship (2023)– Bronze Medal
- World Para Athletics Championship (2019)– Silver Medal
- Fazza, Dubai Grand Prix (2022)– Silver Medal