Who is Sachin Khilari, shot put champion who overcame life-changing injury to win silver at Paris Paralympics?

Sachin Sarjerao Khilari clinched a silver medal in the men's shot put F46 event at the State de France, recording a remarkable throw of 16.32m, setting a new Asian record on Wednesday.

Khilari narrowly missed out on the gold, which was claimed by Canada¡¯s Greg Stewart, who registered his season-best throw of 16.38m. Luka Bakovic of Croatia secured the bronze with a throw of 16.27m.

Two other Indian athletes, Mohammad Yasser and Rohit Kumar, finished in eighth and ninth positions with throws of 14.21m and 14.10m, respectively.

Khilari¡¯s 11th medal and the F46 classification

This silver medal marks the 11th for India in para-athletics in the ongoing Games. Khilari, a reigning world champion, earlier set a new Asian record in May during the World Para-Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, with a throw of 16.30m.

Stewart, who also won gold at the Tokyo Paralympics, defended his title with a throw of 16.38m, while Khilari¡¯s consistency earned him a spot on the podium once again.

The F46 classification is for athletes with impairments in one or both arms, such as arm deficiency, impaired muscle power, or restricted range of motion.

Athletes in this category compete in a standing position. Khilari himself has an impaired left hand, the result of a cycling accident at the age of nine, which led to a fracture that didn¡¯t heal properly, eventually leading to gangrene and limiting the mobility of his arm.

Despite these challenges, Khilari pursued his passion for athletics. Initially, he took up javelin while studying to become an engineer. However, after suffering a shoulder injury during a competition, he transitioned to shot put, where he has continued to excel.

Humble beginnings and a journey through adversity

Sachin Khilari hails from Kargani in Atpadi Taluka, located in Maharashtra's Sangli district, an area known for its pomegranate farming. His family owned an 18-acre farm, and Sachin grew up listening to stories about agriculture from his father, Sarjerao Rangnath Khilari, a recipient of the Maharashtra Krishi Bhushan Award.

Khilari¡¯s life took a challenging turn when he fractured his left hand after a fall from a bicycle at the age of nine. Gangrene set in, causing severe damage. Although doctors were able to save his arm, it left him with limited movement.

Civil services aspirant-turned-Parlampics medallist: Sachin Khilari overcomes hand impairment, family struggles to win shot put silver
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Despite his physical setback, Sachin¡¯s father encouraged him to pursue academics. He went on to earn a mechanical engineering degree from Indira College of Engineering in Pune. However, it wasn¡¯t long before Sachin found a new passion in para sports.

In 2015, he was introduced to para sports and quickly made an impression. By 2017, he had won a gold medal in the National Games held in Jaipur. Soon after, he was introduced to coach Satyanarayana, who guided him in improving his technique and helped him transition to a full-time athlete by 2019.

Academic excellence and athletic achievements

Balancing academics and sports, Sachin has not only excelled in athletics but also in his professional career. As a mechanical engineer, he serves as a visiting faculty member at various institutions, helping students prepare for their MPSC and UPSC exams.

His journey has not been without hardship. Sachin lost his mother at a young age and faced years of surgeries and treatments for his hand, which was never fully repaired. However, through it all, his father remained a constant source of support, guiding him and his younger brother through difficult times.

Turning to shot put after injury

Khilari¡¯s first experience with competitive athletics came during his university years when he competed in the discus and javelin events. He earned a gold medal in javelin at the Inter-University State Athletics Championship with a throw of 60 meters, but then took a break from the sport for four years.

When he returned to athletics, he competed in the javelin throw in the F46 category, which is designed for athletes with moderate impairments in their arms. Khilari won the gold medal at the Jaipur Nationals in 2017 with a throw of 58.47m.

However, a shoulder injury after winning gold at the Para Nationals in Delhi in 2019 forced him to reconsider his career in javelin. It was a call from national coach Satya Narayana that convinced him to switch to shot put, a decision that would lead to even greater success.

Last year, Khilari won his first world para title in Paris, setting a new Asian record with a throw of 16.21m. He followed up with a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, throwing 16.03m.

Also Read: Who is Deepthi Jeevanji, Paris Paralympics silver medalist who was once called 'mental' by fellow villagers?

Inspired by world champions

Khilari is an admirer of two-time Olympic champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser. ¡°I like to watch Crouser¡¯s step across method and the kind of perfection he has. The way he used additional rotation to add to his power is something we all aspire to,¡± Khilari shared with Indian Express in May. He also looks forward to learning from Asian Games champion Tajinderpal Singh Toor.

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