Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sachin Sarjerao Khilari for winning the silver medal in the Men’s Shotput F46 event at the Paralympic Games in Paris on Wednesday. Sachin set an Asian Record with a throw of 16.32 meters. He finished second to Canada’s Greg Stewart, who threw 16.38 meters, his season’s best.
In a post on X, PM Modi praised Khilari’s accomplishment: “Congratulations to Sachin Khilari for his incredible achievement at the #Paralympics2024! In a remarkable display of strength and determination, he has won a silver medal in the Men’s Shotput F46 event. India is proud of him.”
Notable Achievements and Background
Sachin Khilari, the reigning world champion in his category, previously set an Asian Record with a throw of 16.30 meters at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May. His past achievements include gold medals at the Asian Para Games (2022), World Para Athletics Championship (2024), and World Para-Athletics Championship (2023) with an Asia Record. He is also a five-time gold medalist at the National Para-Athletics Championship.
India now holds 21 medals overall at the Paralympic Games, surpassing the 19 medals won at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. The current tally includes three gold, eight silver, and ten bronze medals.
Inspiring Journey
This marks Sachin Khilari’s first Paralympic medal. Born into a farming family in Karagani village, Sangli district, Maharashtra, Sachin suffered an accident during school that resulted in a disability in his left hand. Introduced to Para-Sports in 2015, he won gold at the National Games in Jaipur in 2017. Coach Satayanarayana helped him transition to a full-time athlete in 2019.
Besides his sports career, Sachin excels as a mechanical engineer and serves as a visiting faculty member, assisting students with MPSC and UPSC exam preparations.
Also Read: PM Modi Praises Para-Athletes For Stellar Performance At Paris Paralympics
