Club thrower Pranav Soorma creates new world record, qualifies for Paris Paralympics 2024

Indian para club thrower Pranav Soorma has created a new world record in the F51 category club throw at the recent trials conducted in Bengaluru. Importantly, with this throw, he also made the cut for the forthcoming Paris Paralympics, scheduled to take place on August 28.

Pranav covered the distance of 37.23 meters with his throw in the F51 category club throw, moving past the previous world record of 36.22 meters, held by the Russian para-athlete Musa Taimazov.

Unfortunately, Pranav missed out on the bronze medal by a whisker at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, in May 2024. While his fellow Indian compatriot Dharambir secured the bronze medal with 33.61m, Pranav could achieve only 33.10m in the final.

Nevertheless, Pranav, with the help of his coach, Naval Singh, went back to basics and worked harder to achieve qualification for the Paris Paralympics 2024.

“Not winning a medal at the World Para Athletics Championship held at Kobe in May was a disappointment. My coach Naval Singh and I went back to the basics and worked harder. Now going to Paris Paralympics 2024, this performance has boosted my confidence,” Pranav said as quoted by MyKhel.

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“I am very sure that he will make the country proud” - Pranav Soorma’s coach Naval Singh

Later, Pranav Soorma’s coach, Naval Singh, also shared his thoughts, stating that his job is to bring Pranav back to his game, nullifying the outside noise. Also, he is confident that Pranav will make the country proud in the upcoming Paralympics.

“Pranav has always been a hard worker, but sometimes outside noise can break a player’s concentration. My job was to bring his focus back to his game. I am very sure that he will make the country proud at the Paris Paralympics 2024,” Naval Singh stated.

Pranav injured his spinal cord in an accident and turned up to the sport to regain his strength. Notably, athletes whose movement was affected to a high degree in the trunk, legs, and hands make the cut for the F51 club throw discipline.

It’s worth noting that Pranav Soorma secured the gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023 with a throw of 30.01 meters.