India Shines at Asian Para Games 2026 with Historic High Jump Victory

Outstanding Performances in Men's High Jump

At the Asian Para Games 2026, Indian para-athletes Praveen Kumar and Banti achieved remarkable success, finishing first and second in the men's high jump T64 event. Rakeshbhai Bhatt also contributed to India's medal tally by securing a bronze in the men's 100m T37 final.

Praveen and Banti's Record-Setting High Jump

Praveen, a two-time Paralympic medalist, clinched the gold medal with a record-setting jump of 2.05 meters, while Banti earned silver with a personal best of 1.92 meters, marking a significant achievement for India.

Initially, Praveen matched the Games record by clearing 1.95 meters. He then surpassed this by jumping 2.00 meters on his first attempt and finally reached 2.05 meters on his third attempt, setting a new record.

Rakeshbhai Bhatt's Bronze in 100m Sprint

Rakeshbhai Bhatt added another medal for India by finishing third in the men's 100m T37 final, clocking a personal best of 11.50 seconds. The gold medal was won by Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli in 11.31 seconds, with Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo taking silver in 11.35 seconds.

Mixed Results in Other Events

In para-swimming, Himanshu Nandal qualified for the men's 100m breaststroke SB11 final with a time of 1:21.52, advancing as the fourth-fastest swimmer. He had previously secured a bronze in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event.

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

In para-badminton, Naveen Sivakumar reached 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. This victory guarantees India another medal, as Paralympic medalist Suhas Yathiraj also advanced to the semifinals.

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

India's Medal Count Exceeds 40

With the latest achievements, India's medal tally has reached 41, comprising 11 gold, 13 silver, and 17 bronze medals, placing the nation joint fifth in the overall standings. The impressive performances in para-athletics, particularly by Praveen and Banti, have significantly bolstered India's campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.