Current Affairs-Topics

Praveen Kumar Gold Medal Victory in High Jump at Paralympics

Praveen Kumar, an Indian para-athlete, won India's sixth gold medal in the men's high jump T64 class at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Kumar cleared 2.08m, setting an Asian record in the T64 category. This was India's sixth gold medal in on e edition of the Paralympics.

Record-Breaking Performance

Praveen Kumar won gold in men's high jump T64 class at Paris 2024 Paralympics.
Cleared 2.08m, setting a new Asian record in the T64 category.
This was India's sixth gold medal, the highest ever in one edition of the Paralympics.
Kumar attempted 2.10m but couldn't clear it.
All his clearances from 1.89m to 2.08m were achieved on first attempts.
USA's Derek Loccident (2.06m) and Uzbekistan's Temurbek Giyazov (2.03m) won silver and bronze respectively.

Praveen Kumar's Journey

Born with a short leg, Kumar initially had a passion for volleyball.
Switched to high jump after competing well against able-bodied opponents in a junior event.
Won silver at Tokyo 2020 Paralympics with a clearance of 2.07m.
Secured gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games and bronze at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championship.
Faced setbacks, including a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Kobe Para Athletics World Championships due to injury.
At 21, he was India's youngest para-athlete to win a medal at Tokyo 2020.

The Paris 2024 Final

Six-man final included defending Paralympic and World Champion Jonathan Broom-Edwards.
Kumar started last, clearing 1.89m on his first attempt.
Broom-Edwards struggled early, eliminating a major contender.
Praveen Kumar consistently cleared heights on first attempts up to 2.03m.
Showed first real emotion after clearing 2.06m, taking the lead.
Set new personal best and Asian record with 2.08m clearance.
Attempted 2.10m three times but narrowly missed.

Significance and Reactions

Victory contributes to India's growing success in para-athletics.
Marks India's 26th medal and 6th gold at Paris Paralympics.
Keeps India in contention for a top 10 spot in the overall Paralympic medal tally.
Kumar expressed deep emotion about hearing the Indian national anthem at the podium.
Credited his coach, family, and the whole country of India for his success.
Emphasized the importance of hard work, training, and maintaining a good diet.

Meet Suruchi Singh Shooter

Meet Suruchi Singh, the shooter, India’s latest shooting sensation, who’s redefining precision sports with her sharp aim and unshakeable focus. At just 18, she has become a beacon of h

Nikhat Zareen Skips National Boxing Championships

Women’s National Boxing Championships The Women’s National Boxing Championships commenced at the Shahid Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida, with the absence of some of

Logo and Mascot Revealed for the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025

On January 16, 2025, the official logo and mascot for the 23rd National Para Athletics Championship 2025 were revealed. The upcoming event, scheduled to take place in Tamil Nadu, underscor

Greg Bell: A Legacy in Long Jump and Dentistry

Greg Bell, the oldest surviving Olympic gold medalist in athletics, died on January 25, 2025, at the age of 94. He secured the long jump gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and had a

Steve Smith Becomes Latest Member of the Elite 10,000-Run Club in Test Cricket

Australian batsman Steve Smith reached a historic milestone on Wednesday, January 29, during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Smith became the 15th player ever and the fourth Aus

Dinesh Karthik Becomes India’s Leading Run-Scorer as Wicketkeeper in T20s

Dinesh Karthik has overtaken the iconic MS Dhoni to become the Indian wicket-keeper with the most runs in T20 cricket. In a remarkable achievement for Indian cricket, veter

ICC CEO Steps Down Due to Concerns Over Pakistan's Readiness for Champions Trophy

Geoff Allardice has stepped down from his position as CEO of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Geoff Allardice, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Internationa

Sinner Claims Consecutive Australian Open Titles

Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Australian Open title with a dominant win over Alexander Zverev in a decisive final, further cementing his status as one of tennis's rising star

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Clinches Malaysian Title

Indian Grandmaster Iniyan Panneerselvam delivered an outstanding performance to secure victory at the 9th Johor International Open Chess Tournament in Malaysia. The 22-year-old from Erode,

Omarzai Named ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

Azmatullah Omarzai, Afghanistan’s exceptional all-rounder, had an impressive 2024, cementing his status as one of the top performers in One Day International (ODI) cricket with his r