New Delhi, Sep 27 (PTI) Shailesh Kumar faced ridicule from the people of his village in Bihar when he took up para sports after his right leg was affected by polio as a kid, but he hung on and his determination paid off when he won his maiden World Championships gold here on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Shailesh, the 2023 Asian Para Games champion, cleared 1.91m to shatter the championships record and win the gold in the men's high jump T63 event on the opening day of the showpiece event here. Shailesh's triumph also opened the gold medal account for India in the competition.

Born to a farming family at Islamnagar village in Jamui district of Bihar, Shailesh's right foot was affected by polio when he was a kid.

"I used to compete with able-bodied athletes when I was in school. People told

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