Indian powerlifter Farman Basha came close to winning India’s first medal on the opening day of the Rio Paralympics but missed out on the bronze medal on Thursday.
Basha, who is ranked sixth in the world, was competing in the men’s 49kg category. He lifted 140 kg in his first attempt but could not lift 150kg and 155kg in the second and third attempts respectively. He finished fourth.
The gold went to Vietnam’s Le van Cong who lifted 181 kg in his third attempt. It is also a world record. The silver went to Jordan’s Qarada Omar (177kg) and the bronze to Hungary’s Tunkel Nandor (155kg).
Discus thrower Amit Kumar Saroha finished seventh among as many competitors in the men’s discus throw F52 final.
Saroha managed a best of 9.01 in his fourth attempt. Latvia’s overwhelming favourite Aigars Apinis clinched the gold with his best throw of 20.83.
In shooting, Naresh Kumar Sharma failed to qualify for the final in men’s R1-10m Air Rifle Standing-SH1.