Indian Paralympic athletes book London berth

Indian para athletes clinched five medals, including one gold, at the second Kuwait International Open Athletics Championship and so far booked four Paralympic quota places.

Para athletes Jagseer Singh, Mahabir Singh, Subbaiah Thirumalai under Grade A and Surjeet Singh under Grade B, have made the cut for the London Olympics.

Jagseer clinched gold in the long jump event with a leap of 6.55m while Mahabir bagged the silver.

Thirumalai fetched silver in the discus event with a throw of 37.08m. Karnataka's Surjeet Singh accounted for yet another white metal for the country in short put with a projection of 11.23m.

In the 200m race, Rajasthan's Sandeep Singh Maan clocked 23.85s to bag the silver medal.

"It is pertinent to mention here that SAI (Sports Authority of India) didn't accommodate the proposal to send the team to Kuwait due to financial constraints but it was Rathan Singh, Secretary General, who made all the efforts to send the team to the event for achieving the qualifying mark for the London Games," Paralympic Committee of India release stated.

Rathan Singh, meanwhile, hailed the effort of Indian athletes at the event and said he was very happy that they secured berth for the London Games.