Dilip Mahadu Gavit smashed the Games record to win gold,
while Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath claimed silver as India completed a
stunning one-two in the men's 100m T47 at the Commonwealth Games.
Dilip Gavit (R) and Mohammed Basil (L) secured a 1-2
finish in the Men's T47 100m final.
It took Dilip Mahadu Gavit just 10.71 seconds to etch his
name into Commonwealth Games history. The journey to that golden moment,
however, was years in the making.
On a rain-soaked evening in Glasgow, the 22-year-old from
rural Maharashtra produced the race of his life to win the men's 100m T47 gold
medal with a Games Record and season-best time of 10.71 seconds. Moments later,
India's celebrations doubled as Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath crossed the
finish line in 10.83 seconds, a season best that secured silver and completed a
historic Indian one-two.
England's Kevin Santos took bronze in 10.85 seconds, but the
night belonged to the Indian duo, who delivered one of the country's greatest
moments in Commonwealth Games para athletics.
The victory also handed India its third gold medal of the
Glasgow Games after Mirabai Chanu's triumph in weightlifting and Sharmila
Dhankar's success in the women's F57 shot put. The two medals lifted India to
eighth in the standings with three gold, nine silver and three bronze medals.
Dilip Gavit stormed his way ahead in the race.
AGAINST ALL ODDS
Behind Gavit's record-breaking run lies a story of
resilience, perseverance and opportunity.
Born in a village near Nashik, Gavit lost his left hand as a
child after an accident. Limited medical facilities meant it could not be
saved. Growing up in rural Maharashtra, access to quality sporting
infrastructure was equally scarce, making a career in athletics seem like a
distant dream.
Everything changed when coach Vaijanth Kale spotted him
competing in school events.
"I saw him at school and then I convinced his parents
for training," Kale recalled after Gavit's historic victory.
"He did not know anything about para competitions. He
was competing in able-bodied events and was doing well."
Even before entering para athletics, Gavit had shown immense
promise. He won two medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune and another
at the Under-18 level while competing against able-bodied athletes, convincing
Kale that he possessed exceptional natural speed.
"The problem in rural areas is that there are no
facilities," Kale said. "He did not get proper medical facilities,
which led to his left hand being amputated."
A BOLD SWITCH PAYS OFF
Gavit initially made his name as a 400m runner, competing in
open events as recently as 2021 before emerging as one of India's brightest
para athletes.
His breakthrough arrived at the 2023 Asian Para Games in
Hangzhou, where he won gold in the men's 400m T47. He followed that up with an
encouraging campaign at the Paris Paralympics, finishing third in his heat
despite narrowly missing out on the final.
When the Glasgow Commonwealth Games programme omitted the
400m, Gavit made a bold decision to focus on the 100m this season.
The gamble could hardly have worked out better.
Facing difficult weather conditions and a slippery track,
Gavit admitted the race did not begin the way he had hoped.
"The start was a bit slow, but then I gradually picked
up pace and it felt great to win," he said.
Persistent rain made warm-ups difficult throughout the
evening, adding another layer of challenge for the sprinters.
"The weather was not good and I had difficulty getting
my timing right. The body becomes slow and it is difficult to warm up,"
Gavit explained.
A GOLDEN FUTURE
While Gavit stood atop the podium, Mohammed Basil
Morssinganakath ensured India celebrated a historic one-two. Hailing from
Veliyancode in Kerala's Malappuram district, Basil was born without his right
arm and produced a season-best 10.83 seconds to claim silver, underlining
India's growing strength in para sprinting.
The men's 100m T47 is contested by athletes with a
unilateral arm impairment or limb absence affecting movement, strength or
coordination. India's dominance in the event reflected years of progress in the
country's para athletics programme.
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Yet, for Gavit, Glasgow is only another milestone rather
than the destination.
"I am not thinking about doing a job now, my target is
to win medals," he said. "I am sure I will do better at the upcoming
Para Asian Games in September-October in Japan and then the Paralympics."
Those words perhaps best capture the mindset of a man who
has already overcome far greater obstacles than a rain-soaked track.
Commonwealth Games gold has fulfilled one dream, but for Dilip Gavit, the
finish line is still a long way away.
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