Sabrina, Rinku steal limelight at World Para Athletics

Great Britain’s Sabrina Fortune annexed her fourth women’s Shot Put F20 gold medal with a World Record in the IndianOil New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday even as Rinku Hooda claimed a memorable men’s Javelin Throw F46 gold for India beating the past three champions.

There were five other Championship Records rewritten on Monday evening, none more popular than the one set at 66.37m by Rinku Hooda in winning the high-voltage men’s Javelin Throw F46 final from his more experienced team-mate Sundar Singh Gurjar. For the home crowd, it would have been more memorable had Ajeet Singh completed a medal sweep.

It was a riveting contest that saw two Indians dueling for the  top spot – and the Championships Record. Rinku Hooda threw the gauntlet down opening with 63.81m for a new mark, but Sundar Singh Gurjar sent the spear soaring over 64.11m on the third try to claim the record. However, a pumped up Rinku Hooda regained it with his fifth attempt to seal the win.

The defending champion Guillermo Varona Gonzalez (Cuba) claimed bronze with 53,34m ahead of the 2023 World Champion Ajeet Singh (61.77) to deny the home sweep of the medals. But in beating the past three champions – Sundar Singh Gurjar had tasted such success in 2019 – Rinku Hooda showcased his mental strength and skill with the Javelin.

Aware that the stands would be reverberating with support for the Indian F46 trio in the Javelin Throw final happening alongside, she wasted no time in nailing the World Record with her opening throw over 16.75m. Each of subsequent five tries, ranging from 13.99m to 15.71m was good enough to get her gold on Monday.

Tags : Sabrina Fortune, Para Athletics, Rinku Hooda, record, Guillermo Varona Gonzalez