Sachin Khilari has clinched the gold medal in the Para Athletics World Championship, replicating his success from last year. Following this victory, Sachin has set his sights on winning a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris.
A member of Azam Sports Academy, Sachin has secured the necessary quota for the Paris Paralympics set to take place in September. With his qualification confirmed, he has now begun preparations for the Paralympics. Speaking at a press conference, Sachin expressed his determination for India to achieve gold at the Paralympic Games.
Prominent figures such as Abeda Inamdar, Vice President of the Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society, Society Secretary Irfan Shaikh, Azam Sports Academy Director and mentor Dr. Gulzar Shaikh, and other dignitaries were present at the event.
Sachin Sarjerao Khilari of Azam Sports Academy competed in the shot put event at the Para Athletics World Championships held in Kobe, Japan, from May 17 to May 25. Competing in the F46 category, he secured the gold medal with a throw of 16.30 meters. Sachin had previously won gold in the F46 category at last year’s competition in Paris, making him the first Indian athlete to win gold in consecutive years at this tournament.
Hailing from Sangli, Sachin has been training at Azam Sports Academy in Pune for the past four years. His dedication and consistent practice have led to numerous successes from the outset. He first claimed gold at the national competition in Bangalore, which earned him a spot in the Asian tournament. There, he won gold in his first Asian Para Athletics Championship with a throw of 16.03 meters. His journey has now culminated in his qualification for the Paralympics.
Reflecting on his achievement, Sachin said, “Adapting to different environments is a challenge for all athletes. The temperature difference between Pune, where I trained, and the competition venue was significant. Despite these challenges, winning the gold medal is extremely satisfying.”
Sachin expressed gratitude towards Dr. P.A. Inamdar, Abeda Inamdar, and Dr. Gulzar Shaikh for providing all necessary facilities and support for his training at Azam Sports Academy. Their encouragement has motivated him to excel in upcoming competitions.
Abeda Inamdar, Vice President of Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society, stated, “At the Macau Society, we continually promote athletic excellence through Azam Sports Academy. We aim to produce many strong athletes and are proud of players like Indian women’s cricket team member Kiran Navgire from our academy. We wish Sachin success in winning gold at the Paris Paralympics.”
Dr. Gulzar Shaikh, Director of Azam Sports Academy, added, “We are committed to providing top-notch sports facilities to our athletes. We are preparing a ground with modern sheds to ensure uninterrupted practice for athletes like Sachin. These facilities play a crucial role in enhancing their performance.”
Persevering Despite Adversity
Sachin’s hometown is Kargani in Atpadi taluka of Sangli district. Despite his academic excellence, Sachin chose to pursue sports. After completing his engineering education, he prepared for the state service exam and reached the main examination in 2015 but did not pass. Subsequently, he began teaching geography for the same exams and worked as a lecturer at Gurukul Academy and Ganesh Kad Academy. Throughout this period, he continued to train in sports, under the guidance of Sai coach Arvind Chavan.
