Oleksandr’s World Record, Deepthi’s Landmark Medal for India, and Mauritius’ First Paralympic Victory by Yovanni

The T20 Men’s and Women’s 400m race and F20 Men’s Shot-put finals made their way to the Stade de France arena today along with the Women’s Quarterfinals at South Paris Arena 4.

Oleksandr’s WR in F20 Men’s Shot Put

In the F20 Men’s Shot put, YAROVYI Oleksandr (UKR) took the lead from his first throw (16.86m) and was chased by Malaysian thrower, ZOLKEFLI Muhammad Ziyad (16.75).

 

The Ukrainian then started taking the lead by crossing 17m and thrashed the World Record in his fourth attempt by covering a distance of 17.61m, emerging as a champion.

The athlete expressed immense pride, saying,

“I am very proud of myself. I am very happy that I did it. I wanted to do it in Tokyo, but it didn’t work out. Here, I put all my efforts into it, and I did it.” 

Reflecting on his journey from a bronze finish at Paris 2023 to winning gold, he shared,

“I went home, got rehabilitation, trained, worked on myself, and I managed to break the World Record now. From now on, at each competition, I want to win only gold medals.”

When asked about his friend Maksym, who took third place, he graciously said,

“I congratulate Maksym on his bronze medal. He wins all competitions, but it didn’t happen today.”

He dedicated his gold medal to his family, thanking them for their support.

ZOLKEFLI Muhammad Ziyad made his medal-winning throw in his third attempt, 17.18m who was joined by KOVAL Maksym (16.99 m).

Historic Medal For India in Women’s T20 400m

While Debutants dominated the podium, Ukraine bought a last-minute twist to leave the crowd in shock.

Breanna Clark from the USA took the lead in the race who was challenged by Turkey’s sensational runner who broke the World Record yesterday in the event, Aysal Onder and the Kobe 2024 Champion from India, Deepthi Jeevanji, who had also scripted history by becoming the first Paralympian from India with an intellectual impairment. The three runner were seen oushing each other until the very last minute. However, Ukraine’s Yuliia Shuliar who is known for her strong finish, snatched away the gold from the leaders.

Shuliar stormed towards the finish line at 55.16 sec, her personal best, followed by Aysel Onder (TUR) at 55.23 sec.

Talking to Virtus Sport, Shuliar shared she was surprised by her win and dedicated her medal to the soldiers who are defending Ukraine in these hard times.

“This is my second medal at a Paralympic Games. The first one was in Tokyo (2020) where I got second place (silver). But here I took the second one, gold. I was not expecting it and I didn’t think about it. It just happened. I hoped that I could win a gold medal but I knew that my opponents were very strong athletes. I had no thoughts about my opponents (before the race). I was just focusing on my race and I ran as fast as I could.”

“I won this medal for the soldiers who have been defending Ukraine right now in such hard times. I won it also for my coach who helps me, supports me and trains me.”

Silver medalist from the 2023 Virtus Global Games, Deepthi Jeevanji (IND), who had already scripted history by becoming India’s first athlete with an intellectual impairment, also became the first athlete to win India’s first medal from events offered for this impairment class overall with 55.82 sec won.

Reflecting on her journey from the Virtus Global Games to the Paralympics, the Indian athlete expressed pride and happiness in winning a bronze medal.

“I’m very happy for this medal. It’s my first time in the Paralympics,” she said, acknowledging the significance of her achievement as India’s first T20 athlete and medalist.

Although she was a bit nervous during the race, she was determined to win a medal. Competing alongside three-time gold medalist Breanna Clark, the Indian athlete felt proud of her accomplishment, especially since she finished ahead of Clark.

When asked if she was disappointed about not winning silver, she admitted, “I was so tired, so my legs were not moving.”

Her coach explained that the time zone difference between India and Paris affected her performance, as she usually sleeps at 8:30 PM, but the race took place around 10:30 PM local time. Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic and promised to aim for gold at the next Paralympics in Los Angeles.

First Paralympic Medal Tally Opening T20 Men’s 400m

In a thrilling Men’s 400m race at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, seven of the eight runners finished within 48 seconds, delivering a nail-biting finish that kept the audience on edge. While much attention was on Brazilian star Samuel Oliveira and French favourite, Tokyo 2020 champion Kouakou Charles-Antoine, it was the newcomers who stole the spotlight.

Colombia’s Obando Asprilla Jhon Sebastian clinched the gold with a blistering time of 48.09 seconds. He was closely followed by Spain’s David Jose Penida, who took silver with 48.24 seconds, and Mauritius’ Yovanni Philippe, who earned bronze with 48.30 seconds.

Jhon expressed his joy and determination after the race, saying,

“This was our goal. This is what I was working towards. This is the reflection of the hard work we have put in.” 

He shared how he had prepared for the event, starting a two-month training program after returning from the World Championships in Japan. The final stretch, he noted, was particularly challenging:

“The effort I had to make was enormous.” Jhon’s heartfelt gesture of kissing his shoes after the race symbolized his journey, as he continued to train in broken shoes despite criticism.

Jhon, who previously won silver in the 400m and bronze in the long jump at Kobe 2024, dedicated his gold medal to God and his late grandmother, saying, “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Silver medalist David Jose Pineda Mejia of Spain reflected on his performance, saying,

“It was a long day and I’ve finished it well, maybe not as well as I had hoped for, but I am quite happy with this medal.” He appreciated his time in Paris, calling it an “incredible experience.”

First-ever Paralympic medal for 🇲🇺Mauritius!✨

🇲🇺Yovanni Philippe wins 🥉 bronze in the men's 400m T20! This historic achievement marks Mauritius’ debut on the Paralympic medal podium.#ParaAthletics @Paralympics @Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/tyyOO9HbV2

— Para Athletics (@ParaAthletics) September 3, 2024

Bronze medalist Yovanni Philippe from Mauritius expressed pride in his achievement, stating,

“It’s a great feeling to have a medal at my first Paralympics. This is the first Paralympic medal for Mauritius so it is a big thing for Mauritius.”

Class 11 Women’s Quarterfinals

Four Quarterfinal matches were scheduled today in the Class 11 Women’s.

In a highly anticipated showdown, 2023 Virtus Global Games champion Acer Ebru from Turkey took on France’s home favourite, Lea Ferney, in a thrilling match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Acer, known for her aggressive playstyle, came out swinging, dominating the first game with a decisive 11-6 win. However, Lea, fueled by the support of her home crowd, rallied in the second game, narrowly edging out Acer with a 13-11 victory, signalling that the match was far from over.

Despite Lea’s spirited comeback, Acer quickly regained her momentum. She showcased her skill and tenacity, taking the next two games 11-7 and 11-5, ultimately sealing the match with a 3-1 win. Acer’s victory was a testament to her consistency and determination, as she successfully overcame the challenge posed by the French star.

Japan’s Wada Natsuki cruised to a straightforward 3-0 victory over Brazil’s Santos Evelyn, with scores of 12-10, 11-6, and 11-6. Wada’s performance was marked by precision and control, as she never allowed her opponent to gain a foothold in the match.

Tokyo 2020 champion Elena Profofeva (NPA) also delivered a commanding performance, defeating Hong Kong’s Ting Ting Wong in straight sets, 11-7, 11-3, 11-8. Profofeva’s experience and skill were on full display as she comfortably advanced to the next round.

In another gripping encounter, Japan’s Furukawa Kanami triumphed over Ukraine’s Natalia Kosmina, winning 3-1. After taking the first game 11-5, Furukawa faced a tough challenge in the second, narrowly losing 10-12. However, she quickly bounced back, securing the final two games 11-4 and 11-9, showcasing her resilience and determination to move forward in the tournament.

UP NEXT ON 4th SEPTEMBER

S14 Men’s and Women’s 200m Individual medley and Men’s Singles Quarterfinal matches