Praveen Kumar's Dominant High Jump Victory at Paris Paralympics 2024

Praveen Kumar's gold medal triumph in the men's T64 high jump at the Paris Paralympics 2024 was utterly dominant. This remarkable young athlete cleared seven heights consecutively, finishing at an astonishing 2.08m - a new Asian record.

This unprecedented achievement, followed by his first failed attempt at 2.10m, still left him securely in the gold position. Only 21 years old, the athlete upgraded his silver medal from Tokyo to gold, contributing the sixth of India's gold medals, increasing the country's tally to 26. 

There were worthy attempts from USA's Derek Loccident and Uzbekistan's Giyazov Temurbek, who both achieved personal bests, but could not match Praveen's astounding performance. Notably, Tokyo gold medallist, Jonathan Broom-Edwards, failed to replicate his past success, finishing fifth. 

Despite experiencing a setback this year at the World Championships, where Praveen finished fourth with a clearance of only 1.94m, his course in Paris was one of total domination. The jump of 2.08m goes beyond Praveen's personal best and sets a new standard in the sport. 

Although his exceptional achievement may come as a surprise to some, others see it as the natural blossoming of a potentially world-changing talent. At just 18, Praveen became the youngest ever athlete from India to win a Paralympic medal with a record-setting jump. His rapid ascension in the sport is even more remarkable considering he only began competing in para-athletics in 2019.

Since then, he's not only qualified for the pinnacle of global competitions, but thrived in them, earning a bronze medal at the Junior Para World Championship the same year. Originating from a modest village near Noida, Praveen defied all expectations by excelling in an event traditionally performed by able-bodied athletes and has since created a storm in the world of para-athletics. Training under coach Satyapal Singh, Praveen made a head-turning entrance into the senior events, manifesting his awe-inspiring abilities for the world to see.