Published By: Rohit Chatterjee

Paralympics 2024: Sachin Sarjerao Khilari Shines on Debut with a Silver

In his debut season, the shotput thrower made India proud with a medal

India has already beat its previous record of 19 medals won in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and the nation has shown no sign of settling for less. The first medal of Day 7, a silver, went to Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, Indiaโ€™s rising para-athlete in the F46 shotput category. The achievement is undoubtedly phenomenal, given that this is Khilariโ€™s debut season at the Paralympics.

Canadaโ€™s Greg Stewart took first place with a throw of 16.38 metres, Khilari took second with a throw of 16.32 metres, and Croatiaโ€™s Luka Bakovic earned third place with a throw of 16.27 metres.

From javelin to shotput

Born on October 23, 1989, the 34-year-old was only an 11-year-old kid when he suffered a grievous hand injury that marred his childhood. Fondly called Bapu by his friends, despite his disability, Khilari took up javelin during school, but in 2019, a shoulder injury stopped him from competing at the highest level.

That is when national coach Satya Narayana showed him the path of shotput, a sport that now defines his life. The transition was never going to be easy, but his natural strength and disciplined lifestyle helped him quickly adapt to the minutiae of the sport.  

Sachinโ€™s big break and dominance

Within four years of picking up the shotput, in 2022, Khilari left his mark on the international stage when he won a gold medal in the F46 category at the Asian Para Games. The following year, in 2023, Khilari showcased his consistency by winning a gold medal in the World Championship in Paris. 2024 further witnessed him dominating the stage as he won another gold at the World Championship in Kobe, and his throw of 16.03 metres helped him set a new Asian record.

Whatโ€™s next?

Although he has an educational background in mechanical engineering, Sachinโ€™s dream is to represent India at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, even though four years later, he will be 38, an age when athletes often think of retiring. Sachin trains 30 hours a week, but now that he has won a silver medal, the next four years could see him working even harder, as his ultimate dream is to grab gold for India. Post 2028, Khilari hopes to become a coach and guide budding para-athletes to glory.

For the uninitiated, two other Indian athletes also took part in the F46 shotput finale but could not finish in the top places. Mohd Yasser finished in 8th place with a throw of 14.21 metres, whereas Rohit Kumar ended in 9th place with a throw of 14.10 metres.

As of now, Indiaโ€™s medal tally stands at 21 with three gold, eight silver and 10 bronze.