400m champion to 100m Gold: Dilip Gavit's bold switch pays off at Asian Para Games

Asian Para Games: Dilip Gavit clocked 10.69 seconds to win the 100m T47 gold in Nagoya on Wednesday, backing up his Commonwealth Games triumph after switching from the 400m.

India's Dilip Mahadu Gavit has shown that he can win gold beyond his original specialty. The Maharashtra sprinter produced a strong late kick to clinch the men's 100m T47 title at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, clocking 10.69 seconds to lead an Indian one-two finish.

Gavit finished just ahead of compatriot Mohammed Morssinganakath, who won silver in 10.72 seconds. China's Kangjun Shi took bronze in 10.80 seconds.

Gavit's winning time was only 0.05 seconds outside his personal best, underlining the quality of his performance. Like he did at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this year, the 23-year-old found another gear late in the race to secure victory.

For a runner who first made his name in the 400m, the gold is another milestone in a successful transition to the shorter sprint. Gavit won the men's 400m T47 title at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou before shifting his focus to the 100m. When the 400m was omitted from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games programme, he took on a new challenge. He won gold in the 100m there and has now followed it up with another major title in Nagoya.

The switch has paid off handsomely, allowing Gavit to establish himself in a new event without losing the finishing strength that has become a feature of his running.

Gavit's journey to the top began far from the international athletics circuit. Born in a village near Nashik in Maharashtra, he lost his left hand in an accident when he was four years old. Limited medical facilities meant the injury could not be treated in time. Growing up in a rural setting, where access to sporting infrastructure was scarce, pursuing athletics at an elite level seemed an unlikely prospect.

His potential was spotted by coach Vaijanath Kale, who saw him competing in school events and persuaded his parents to let him train.

Even before moving into para-athletics, Gavit had shown promise against able-bodied competitors. He won two medals at the Khelo India Youth Games in Pune and another at the Under-18 level. His speed convinced Kale that he had the ability to go further, even if the circumstances around him were far from ideal.

"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."

Gavit's family struggled to meet the costs of training and equipment. Kale helped support him, allowing the young runner to continue developing his talent. He now trains at the VDK Foundation in Nashik under the same coach who recognised his ability at school.

Gavit made his international debut at the Desert Challenge Cup in 2022, finishing second. He went on to win gold in the men's 400m T47 at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and secured qualification for the Paris Paralympics by finishing fourth at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships.

At the Paris Paralympics, he finished third in his heat but narrowly missed out on a place in the final. The experience was another step in his development as he continued to compete at the highest level.

Gavit has also dominated the 400m at the Para National Athletics Championships, winning four consecutive gold medals. But the omission of his preferred event from the Glasgow programme forced him to reconsider his immediate plans. Rather than wait for the 400m to return, he chose to focus on the 100m.

That decision has brought back-to-back international gold medals. In Glasgow, Gavit overcame difficult weather conditions and a slippery track to win, despite a start that did not go to plan.

"The start was a bit slow, but then I gradually picked up pace and it felt great to win," he said after that victory.

Persistent rain had made warming up difficult. "The weather was not good and I had difficulty getting my timing right. The body becomes slow and it is difficult to warm up," he explained.

In Nagoya, his late acceleration again proved decisive. His 10.69-second effort was enough to beat Morssinganakath by 0.03 seconds and secure another gold for India.

A student pursuing a BA degree at Dada Sahib Bidikar College in Nashik, Gavit has come a long way from the school competitions where Kale first noticed him. His progress has been built on natural speed, sustained support and a willingness to adapt when circumstances demanded it.

Once known for his strength over 400m, Gavit has now won major titles over 100m at both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Para Games. In Nagoya, he offered another reminder that his ambitions are not confined to a single distance.