Praveen Kumar is all set so as to add the World title to his Paralympic and Asian honours.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Pictures
A double Olympic medalist and Asian document holder, Praveen Kumar will likely be one of many house favourites on the upcoming World Para Athletics Championships later this month. And the 22-year previous excessive jumper is eager so as to add the one gold his cupboard is lacking.
Beginning his aggressive journey with silver on the Junior World Championships in 2019, Praveen — who has a brief leg and competes within the T64 class — adopted it up with silver on the Tokyo Paralympics, gold on the Asian Video games and bronze on the World Championships in 2023 and gold on the Paris Paralympics, setting a brand new Asian document and private finest of two.08m within the course of.
Praveen needed to change from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium — venue for the World Championships — to Thyagaraj Advanced attributable to relaying of the observe after which to the Vinod Nagar Sports activities Advanced for a similar purpose.
“There was a little bit downside shifting coaching bases but it surely’s okay now. We’ve been advised that Nehru Stadium will likely be open from the fifteenth. That ought to give us sufficient time,” he defined.
He can have family and friends watching him compete for the primary time ever. “Everybody is happy. My father wished to know the way they will come. When you recognize your loved ones is watching you, it motivates you to do higher. There will likely be some stress additionally however I’ll attempt to make it my power and keep centered on my efficiency.”
Profitable gold at house will likely be particular, he admitted. “I’ve to interrupt my private document (2.08m) right here and I’m assured of doing it. After I acquired on the rostrum in Tokyo and heard the Nationwide Anthem of Britain (Jonathan Broom-Edwards gained gold), I felt our Nationwide Anthem must also play on this stage and that grew to become my goal for 2024. When over 1.5 lakh folks give respect to your Nationwide Flag and Anthem, you are feeling a delight that can not be described. That delight has all the time been my driving drive. Now I would like that at house additionally,” he concluded.
Printed – September 10, 2025 05:42 pm IST
