Dharambir, Preeti to lead India as flag bearers at World Para Athletics Championships

Three-time Paralympics medalist high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu was one of the notable omissions from India's 73-strong team, led by star javelin thrower Sumit Antil, for next month's World Para Athletics Championships, being hosted by the country for the first time.

- AGENCIES

Another high jumper Sharad Kumar, who won a bronze and a silver in Tokyo and Paris Paralympics, also failed to find a place in the squad, which has 19 women.

The Indian squad was announced on Wednesday during the unveiling of the jersey of the players for the championships to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here from September 27 to October 5.

The 30-year-old Thangavelu is a highly decorated para athlete of the country. He won a gold in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, a silver in the Tokyo edition and a bronze in the Paris Games.

He also won a gold in the World Para Athletics Championships held in Kobe, Japan last year, after a bronze in the 2019 edition. The Tamil Nadu para athlete also won a silver in the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023.

A para athletics said that Thangavelu and Kumar did not take part in the selection trials because of different reasons.