India Shines at Asian Para Games with 14 Medals, Including Five Golds

Indian para athletes delivered a stellar performance at the Asian Para Games, bagging 14 medals including five gold, with Nishad Kumar, Deepthi Jeevanji, and Pranav Soorma leading the charge with record-breaking victories.

India added five gold, four silver, and five bronze medals on the second day of competition, taking the medal count from para athletics to 20, the second best so far after China's 23 (13 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze).

Nishad clinched the top spot in the men's high jump T47 event to join para-runner Ankur Dhama and armless archer Sheetal Devi as only the third Indian to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games. He had won a gold in the long jump T47 event on Monday. On Tuesday, Nishad sailed over 2.04m to win the gold and set a new Games record.

Deepthi Jeevanji began India's gold rush on the day, reasserting her continental supremacy by snaring a second consecutive Asian Para Games gold medal in the women's 400m T20 event after clocking a Games record time of 56.36 seconds. The 23-year-old from Telangana, who also holds the Asian record, is a two-time Para World Championships medallist, having won gold in 2024.

Hailing from a remote village in Telangana's Warangal, Deepthi's talent for running was first discovered by a physical education teacher in her school. She eventually found support from badminton great Pullela Gopichand, who suggested a test for her intellectual disability. Despite facing challenges and taunts from fellow villagers, her parents played a tremendous role in supporting her ambitions.

Simran and Soorma set new records

Seasoned sprinter Simran also created a new Games record to clinch her maiden gold medal, while compatriot Tejalben Damor fetched a bronze in the women's 200m T12 competition. Simran clocked 24.80 seconds, while Tejalben, making her debut at the continental showpiece, was third at 25.23 seconds.

In the men's discus throw combined F51/52/53 event, Pranav Soorma won gold with an Asian record, while Ram Ratan Singh took the silver in a 1-2 finish for the country. Soorma sent his discus to a distance of 11.66m in his fourth attempt to take the top spot and set a new Asian record. His journey to success is remarkable, having overcome a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralysed at the age of 16.

Inspiring journeys behind medal wins

Indians swept all three medals on offer in the men's discus throw F44/64 event with Devender Kumar winning gold in a four-athlete field. Devender took the gold with a throw of 49.71m, while Rakesh and Pardeep Kumar took the silver and bronze respectively. Devender's journey is equally inspiring, having faced a major accident that led to multiple fractures and a long recovery.

Preeti Pal won a silver in the women's 200m T35 event. Praveen Sharma (men's shot put F11), Ayush Verma (men's javelin F53/54), and Hokato Hotozhe Sema (men's shot put F56/57) won bronze medals. This impressive haul of medals not only highlights the talent of Indian para athletes but also their resilience and determination to succeed against all odds.