‘Watching Us Perform Live Pushes Juniors to Dream Bigger,’ Says Sumit Antil After WPA Grand Prix Gold

New Delhi — Watching top athletes compete in person can inspire young sportspersons to set higher goals, believes Paralympic champion Sumit Antil, who says such moments motivate the next generation to work harder.

Speaking to IANS after winning gold at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi, Antil said junior athletes often gain confidence and ambition when they witness elite performances up close.

The Indian star finished at the top of an all-Indian podium in the men’s F43/F44/F64 javelin throw event with a best throw of 69.25 metres. Emphasising the importance of hosting international competitions in India, Antil said these events offer young athletes valuable exposure and inspiration.

“It’s very important, especially for junior athletes and upcoming champions. When they see us perform live, they feel inspired and try to work even harder to make the country proud,” Antil said after his victory.

Interestingly, he added that inspiration flows both ways. According to him, senior athletes are also motivated by the performances of younger competitors.

“When we see junior athletes doing so well at such a young age, we start thinking how much better they’ll be when they reach our age. That pushes us to work harder too,” he said.

Antil explained that watching high-level competitions helps young athletes set clear targets for themselves. “They already train hard, but seeing us perform gives them a goal. When they watch competitions at a higher level, their ambitions grow bigger and they learn a lot from it,” he noted.

The reigning world champion also spoke about the role of crowd support, revealing that most of the cheering during his event came from members of his own team.

“Nobody from my family was there, but everyone cheering in the stands was part of my team,” he said.

He encouraged fans to attend competitions and support athletes whenever possible. “It feels really good when people cheer your name. That energy helps improve performance,” he added.

Reflecting on the growth of para sports in India, Antil said awareness has gradually improved since he began competing in 2017.

“There’s still less visibility, but things are changing. Compared to when I started, there’s been a big shift in people’s mindset, the number of events, and the level of performances,” he said.

Looking ahead, the 27-year-old from Sonipat revealed that he is aiming to achieve a historic milestone in para javelin — a 75-metre throw, a mark no para athlete has reached yet.

Antil currently holds the world record with a personal best of 73.29 metres, achieved at the 2022 Asian Para Games. Since 2023, he has consistently recorded throws between 71 and 73 metres, but has not yet surpassed that mark.

“It’s been two years since I last threw beyond 73 metres. Sometimes that makes me a little sad. This year my aim is to reach the 75-metre mark. I don’t know exactly how it will happen because no one has done it before, but I’m working on everything — technique, strength and overall fitness,” he said.

Antil began his competitive season earlier this year at the Dubai Grand Prix, where he won gold with a throw of 68.26 metres.

He said several international competitions are lined up this season, with the Asian Para Games as his main target.

“My focus this year is the Asian Para Games, and I want to reach peak form before that. Before that, I’m aiming for a strong performance at the Nottwil Grand Prix in May,” Antil added.

With inputs from IANS