Paris Paralympics 2024 Para Athletics: Arvind Malik finishes 6th in men's shot put F35 final

Para-shot put athlete Arvind Malik would have entered Paris Paralympics 2024 with a dream of reaching the podium. Having finished 7th at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, Arvind would have put in all the hard work in the last four years to be able to win a medal in Paris. However, his dream remains unfulfilled.

Arvind competed in the men's shot-put F35 final in Paris on September 5 and finished in the 6th position. A total of eight competitors competed in the event that was held at the iconic Stade de France. Malik started off with a decent throw of 11.79m in his first attempt, which was also a new season best for him.

He then upped the tempo a bit with a better distance of 12.34m in his next throw. The 31-year-old gradually bettered himself in his third attempt, thereby raising everyone's hopes. Arvind broke his own season best that he had just set in the first throw to register a 13.01m throw.

---

Arvind Malik ends up losing out on steam post a season best throw in third attempt

Just when Arvind Malik looked like he was getting closer to a potential podium finish in Paris, it all started to go downhill. Malik, who had bettered his distance with each of his throw, could not take the momentum any further. In his fourth attempt, the Haryana-born para-athlete, marked a reduced distance of 12.85m.

His fifth attempt was even lower at 12.71m. Arvind Malik was desperate to breach the 15m barrier in his last chance but could not manage a legal throw. With that, he ended his journey at the Quadrennial Games in Paris without a medal. Notably, Arvind ended with a lower best throw in Paris compared to his 13.48m in Tokyo.

Khusniddin Norbekov of Uzbekistan went on to clinch the gold with a new Paralympic Record throw of 16.82m. Argentina's Hernan Emanuel Urra won the silver with 16.11m. The bronze medal was taken by Seyed Aliasghar Javanmardi of Iran with a throw of 15.84m.