India's Nishad Kumar won silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games in the Men's T46/47 High Jump. The 21-year-old cleared 2.06m on his second attempt to equal his own Asian record, before failing three attempts at 2.09m.
India at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics: Schedule & results | Medal prospects | Full squad
He shares silver with USA's Dallas Wise,who also cleared 2.06m and failed 2.09m. Wise's compatriot Roderick Townsend took gold, beating his own world record with 2.15m. Roderick cleared all his heights on the first attempt, before failing to clear three attempts at 2.18m.
Belonging to Una in Himachal Pradesh, Nishad Kumar took up para sport in 2009. In November 2019, he claimed a bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships for a berth in the Tokyo Paralympics. Nishad cleared 2.06m for an Asian record and a gold medal at the World Para Athletics GP in February this year. He has maintained his form in Tokyo.
The jump that sealed Nishad Kumar's silver 🥈pic.twitter.com/v8BhykW8cT
- ESPN India (@ESPNIndia) August 29, 2021
Meanwhile, India's other competitor in the field, Ram Pal Chahar cleared a personal best of 1.94m to finish fifth.
The 31-year-old from Sonepat had had his right arm amputated at the wrist after an agricultural accident in his childhood. He had continued to play sports like his able bodied friends and was inspired -- like so many Indian para athletes -- by Amit Saroha, to take that career to the next level in 2013. He had quit his job to pursue the high jump as a full time athlete and had been rewarded after he qualified for the Rio Olympics where he finished sixth. He would then win a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Para Games.