Sumit Antil

Sumit Antil was born on June 7, 1998, in Khewra, Sonipat, Haryana, India. His early life was shaped by the loss of his father at the age of seven, who served in the Indian Air Force. Initially, Antil aspired to pursue a career in wrestling and join the Indian Army. However, in 2015, at the age of 17, a motor bike accident resulted in the amputation of his left leg, leading to a significant change in his career aspirations. After completing his secondary education at Dev Rishi Senior Secondary School, Sonipat, he began studying B.Com at Ramjas College of Delhi University. During this period, he was introduced to para-athletics by fellow para-athlete Rajkumar, which marked a turning point in his life.

Antil commenced his javelin training in 2017 under coach Nitin Jaiswal in Delhi. His entry into competitive para-athletics was followed by his inclusion in the GoSports Para Champions Programme in 2019. In 2019, at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Italy, he broke the F64 category world record and earned a silver medal in the Combined Event. Later that year, he secured a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, lowering his own world record in the F64 category. His career progressed significantly when he won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympics on August 30, 2021, setting a new world record with a throw of 68.55m. He continued to break records, achieving 68.62 meters at the Indian Open National Para Athletics Championships, further cementing his position in the sport.

His achievements include a second Paralympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics on September 2, 2024, where he established a new Paralympic Record of 70.59m. In 2025, he secured a gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, setting a Championship record of 71.37 meters. His success continued into 2026, with a gold at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi and a new world record throw of 74.82 meters at the Indian Open National Para Athletics Championships. Antil’s consistent performance and dedication have earned him national recognition, including the Khel Ratna Award in 2021 and the Padma Shri Award in 2022. He was also recognized as the Sportsman of the Year (Parasports) at the Sportstar Aces Awards in 2024 and featured in Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 list.