Rinku Hooda claimed his first world title securing the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F46 category. The 26-year-old athlete from Rohtak, Haryana, broke a decade-old Championship Record with his very first throw of 63.81m. He later launched a 66.37m throw, registering a new personal best and Championship record distance. India achieved a 1-2 finish in the event, with two-time Paralympic medallist Sundar Gujjar taking second place with a throw of 64.76m.
The gold medal in New Delhi is a personal redemption after finishing without a medal at the Paris Games. Despite having thrown over 65m in four separate competitions prior to Paris, he could only manage 61m on the day. He acknowledged the disappointment, stating, "When the country did so well at the Paris Paralympics, it felt worse when I came back without a medal. I’m going to keep pushing myself until the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles."
Rinku's journey to the world title began after a childhood accident at age three led to the amputation of his left arm above the elbow. He took up para-athletics at 11 after a boy in his village suggested he had a future in the sport. Since then, he has focused on drawing explosive strength from his core and lower body to compensate for the loss of his left side block, a technique honed with his coach Dharmendra Kumar. Rinku recalls the date he started training, "January 15, 2013," and remembers the support he received, with his father sponsoring his trip to his first qualifying competition in Dubai in 2015.
The gold medal not only gave Rinku his world title but also provided a chance to perform in front of a significant number of supporters, many of whom were from his village, Dhamar. "I’ve won, so I can’t say there was any problem with the conditions. It was just my day." His final throw of the evening was a deliberate foul, a symbolic gesture after having secured the victory.
Looking forward, Rinku is already setting his sights on the next milestone. While he was asked about missing the current World Record of 68.60m, held by Sundar Singh Gujjar, he maintained his grounded perspective. "One day I will make a world record. God has given me a personal record. I also have a world title. I’m very thankful for that," he said. His next major target is to surpass the 68−69m mark in preparation for the Para Asian Games next year.