On 26 May 2025, Indian para athlete Mahendra Gurjar made history by setting a new world record in the men’s F42 javelin throw with a distance of 61.17 meters at the Nottwil World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland. The 27-year-old broke the previous record of 59.19 meters, held by Brazil’s Roberto Floriani Edenilson since 2022.
Gurjar’s record came on his third attempt, following throws of 56.11m and 55.51m. The F42 category is for athletes with moderate movement impairment in one leg.
Despite competing in a combined event with athletes from categories F40, F57, F63, and F64, Gurjar won gold in F42 and set the world record in that classification.
Earlier, on 23 May, Gurjar also won gold in the long jump T42 category with a 5.59m leap — his debut in the event — and is now Asia’s top-ranked athlete in that category.
In the same Grand Prix, Sumit Antil, a double Paralympics gold medallist, won gold in the F64 javelin event with a throw of 72.35m. The F64 category includes athletes with moderate leg impairments or limb loss.
However, it’s notable that the F42 category is not included in the 2023 Asian Para Games or the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
