Who is Sandeep? All you need to know about the Indian para-athlete competing in the Paris 2024 Paralympics

With the Paris 2024 Paralympics starting on August 28, para javelin thrower Sandeep Chaudhary is among those who will be expected to fight for a podium finish in his third Paralympic appearance.

The 28-year-old para-athlete from Rajasthan has already represented his nation in both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. However, he could only manage an agonising fourth-placed finish, narrowly missing out on a medal.

However, in this year’s Paralympic Games, Sandeep Chaudhary will look to rectify his past mistakes and win his first medal in Paris 2024.

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Sandeep’s career in brief

Born in the Khetri Nagar town in Rajasthan, Sandeep was always interested in sports. He played as a goalkeeper for his college football team and even participated in able-bodied competitions.

However, he suffered a disability in his leg in a freakish incident involving improper medical care. He suffered an injury earlier, which damaged his hip joint, but as nothing came up on an X-ray, Sandeep chose not to go for surgery.

Later, when the problem persisted, he opted for a sonogram. That is when the doctors realised that nothing could be done to save his left leg as the surgery came too late. As a result, his left leg shrunk compared to his other limbs.

After the mishap, Sandeep was introduced to para-sports by a friend of his, and he took an interest in para-athletics after watching the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games. He opted to compete in the F44 category, which was reserved for athletes with a limb deficiency in one leg but do not require a prosthesis.

Showing promise in para-athletics, Sandeep made his debut in the 2015 Grand Prix in Dubai.

After enjoying success in his new-found sport, he was chosen as India’s representative in the Rio 2016 Paralympics. The young para-athlete surprised the world by finishing in the fourth spot, narrowly missing out on the medal despite being the youngest competitor in the final round.

The para-athlete also took part in the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London, finishing fifth. He bounced back in the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, where he clinched a gold medal and broke the world record with a throw of 60.01m.

His improved form was reflected in the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, where he clinched another gold medal with a massive throw of 66.18m, setting another world record.

As a result of his improved form, he was chosen as a part of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. However, Sandeep could again manage a fourth-sport finish despite registering a throw of 62.20m.

The fourth-place curse continued to haunt him again in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. His performance in the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris was also poor, as he could only secure a sixth-placed finish with a throw of 61.33m.

However, he saw a slight improvement in his luck as he clinched a bronze medal in the 2024 World Championships in Kobe, despite managing a throw of just 60.41m.

Despite his recent lukewarm form, the Arjun Award-winning para-athlete will look to leave behind his previous Paralympic demons and win his first medal in the event in the Paris 2024 Paralympics.