It might not be the throwing arm, but the left hand matters plenty in the sport of javelin. For 26-year-old Rinku Hooda, who became world champion in men’s F46 javelin throw hurling a championship record of 66.37m at the World Para Athletics Championship in Delhi, an accident had deprived him of the upper left limb – crucial in deploying this left side block. He drew explosive strength from his core instead, to win a memorable gold at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Monday.

His parents Rohtas Hooda and Saroj Devi, and brother Anuj Hooda would beam with pride sitting in the front row in the stands, the happiness tinged with memory of that fateful accident 23 years ago.

Hooda Sr was crushing paddy fodder with a chuffing fan attached to the tractor at village Dhamra near Rohtak. The then 3-

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