Shailesh Kumar, right, Varun Bhati, centre, and Rahul celebrate after winning gold, silver and bronze medals respectively in the men's high jump T63 event, in Japan | PTI 
Sports

Shailesh Kumar sets Games record as India sweeps men’s high jump T63 gold, silver and bronze

India won three more gold medals at the Asian Para Games as Shailesh Kumar set a Games record in high jump, while Anjanaben Bumbadiya and Dilip Mahadu Gavit triumphed in the 400m events

Indian track-and-field para-athletes snared three more gold medals on Thursday with Shailesh Kumar leading the country's sweep of the men's high jump T63 competition, and sprinters Anjanaben Bumbadiya and Dilip Mahadu Gavit finishing on top in their respective 400m T47 competitions at the Asian Para Games here.

Bumbadiya clinched the gold in women's 400m T47 event with a timing of 59.97sec and was followed by compatriot Jayanti Behera (1:00.65sec) in the second place. Thailand's Sasirawan Inthachot took the bronze with 1:02.58sec.

"This is just my second international competition and to have won a gold here gives me immense happiness. All I wanted to do was give my best and I am happy I could do it in this event," Bumbadiya said after the race.

Shailesh Kumar leads India's high jump sweep

In the men's high jump T63 competition, Shailesh, who won a long jump bronze on Wednesday, led India's domination with a Games record effort of 1.89m. Former Paralympic bronze-winner Varun Bhati secured the silver with a season's best of 1.84m, while Rahul ended with the bronze after a jump of 1.81m.

Dilip Mahadu Gavit wins men's 400m T47 gold

Later, Gavit, who claimed the top spot in the 100m event on Wednesday, won the men's 400m T47 race by clocking 48.27sec.

Bhavikkumar Bharwad had initially finished second behind him with a timing of 49.31sec but he was eventually disqualified for a second lane infringement.

The bronze that had gone to Japan's Ishida Kakeru (49.58sec) was upgraded to silver. Uzbekistan's Marufjon Murodulloev (50.03sec) got the bronze.

In the women's 400m T12 event, visually impaired Tejalben Damor won her second medal of the Games by finishing with a silver after clocking 57.60sec. She had earlier won a bronze in the 200m T12 competition.

What do the T47 and T63 classifications mean?

The T47 category covers athletes with a below-elbow amputation, wrist amputation, or similar upper-limb deficiency/impairment affecting one arm.

T63 classification is for athletes who have a through-knee or above-knee amputation or limb deficiency.

The athletes compete with a lower-limb prosthesis featuring a knee joint for running and jumping.

The Indian high jump trio usually competes in the T42 category which covers lower limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power, or impaired passive range of movement affecting hip and knee function.