India Shines at Asian Para Games 2026 with Gold and Silver in Men's High Jump

At the Asian Para Games 2026, Indian para-athletes Praveen Kumar and Banti achieved a remarkable one-two finish in the men's high jump T64 event, while Rakeshbhai Bhatt secured bronze in the men's 100m T37 final. Praveen set a new Games record with a jump of 2.05 meters, and Banti followed with a personal best of 1.92 meters. India's medal tally now stands at 41, including 11 golds, showcasing the country's strong performance in para-athletics. Discover more about these inspiring achievements and the ongoing success of Indian athletes at the Games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 21, 2026, 09:19 IST

Outstanding Performances by Indian Para-Athletes

Aichi-Nagoya [Japan], October 21: Indian para-athletes Praveen Kumar and Banti achieved remarkable success in the men's high jump T64 event, finishing first and second respectively, while Rakeshbhai Bhatt secured a bronze medal in the men's 100m T37 final during the Asian Para Games 2026 on Wednesday.

Praveen, a two-time Paralympic medalist, clinched the gold with a record-setting jump of 2.05 meters, marking a new Asian Para Games record. Banti followed closely, earning silver with a personal best of 1.92 meters, contributing to a memorable podium sweep for India.

Initially, Praveen secured gold by clearing 1.95 meters, matching the existing Games record. He then successfully jumped 2.00 meters on his first attempt before achieving 2.05 meters on his third attempt, setting a new benchmark.

Banti's impressive performance included a jump of 1.92 meters, solidifying India's dominance in this event.

India's medal tally continued to grow with Rakeshbhai Bhatt, who finished third in the men's 100m T37 final, clocking a personal best of 11.50 seconds.

Gold in this event went to Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli, who finished in 11.31 seconds, while Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo took silver with a time of 11.35 seconds.

In para-swimming, Himanshu Nandal advanced to the men's 100m breaststroke SB11 final, recording a time of 1:21.52 in the heats, qualifying as the fourth-fastest swimmer. He had previously earned a bronze in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event.

India's Sujith MS placed sixth in the men's long jump T13 final, achieving a best jump of 5.74 meters.

In para-badminton, Naveen Sivakumar moved on to the men's singles SL4 semifinals after defeating South Korea's Kyung Hwan Shin with scores of 21-14, 21-4 in just 26 minutes. His advancement guarantees India another medal, with Paralympic medalist Suhas Yathiraj also reaching the semifinals earlier.

However, Ruthick Ragupathi's journey in the men's singles SU5 category concluded in the quarterfinals after a loss to China's Mingpan Li, with scores of 19-21, 14-21 in 37 minutes.

With these latest achievements, India has amassed a total of 41 medals, comprising 11 gold, 13 silver, and 17 bronze, placing the nation joint fifth in the overall standings at the time of this report.

The impressive performances in para-athletics have significantly bolstered India's campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, with the standout achievements of Praveen and Banti highlighting the day's events.