India’s para-athletics powerhouses lit up the 7th Indian Open Para Athletics Championship on Friday, with two-time Paralympic champion Sumit Antil and Uttar Pradesh’s Preeti Pal spearheading a golden start on Day 1. The event, a crucial selection trial for the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, showcased India’s dominance in Bengaluru.

Antil, from Haryana, unleashed a jaw-dropping 72.25m throw in the men’s javelin (F12 & F64), securing gold with ease. Compatriot Manjeet claimed silver at 54.56m, while SSCB’s Pradeep Kumar took bronze with 45.17m. Haryana’s winning streak continued in the F40 & F41 javelin, where Paris Paralympics champion Navdeep Singh hurled 42.63m for gold, followed by Prince (31.90m) and Delhi’s Ritender (30.85m).

In the javelin F46 category, Rajasthan’s Sundar Singh Gujjar clinched the javelin F46 title with a 64.53m throw, narrowly outpacing Haryana’s Rinku Hooda (63.98m) and Uttar Pradesh’s Ajeet Singh (63.25m). On the track, Preeti Pal from Uttar Pradesh blazed through the women’s 100m (T35, T37 & T42) in a swift 15 seconds for gold, ahead of Gujarat’s Bina Mordiay (17.20s) and Haryana’s Avani (20.40s).

Also Read: Shreyanka and Sadhu’s Epic Comeback Stuns Fans in India A’s Australia Tour Squad!

Uttar Pradesh’s Simran sprinted to gold in the women’s 100m (T12 & T13) with a scorching 12.30s, leaving Odisha’s Janaki Oram (14.20s) and Goa’s Sakshi Kale (14.90s) in her wake. Telangana’s Deepthi Jeevanji owned the women’s 400m (T11, T12, T13 & T20), clocking 56.70s for gold, with Gujarat’s Damнями.

Also Read: England’s Bold Move: Stokes Wins Toss, Chooses to Bat as Bumrah Returns for India!