Indian Para-Athletes Shine with World Records at Asian Para Games
Outstanding Performances by Indian Athletes
File image of Indian Para-athlete Sandeep(Photo: IANS)
Nagoya, Oct 23: Indian athletes Haney and Sandeep achieved remarkable success by winning gold medals and setting world records in their respective events at the Asian Para Games held here on Friday.
Haney secured the gold in the men's javelin throw F37/38 category with an impressive throw of 60.49 meters, which also established a new world record, earning him 1,116 Raza points. The silver medal went to Iran's Hormoz Seidikazpounji, who achieved a personal best of 50.68 meters (1009 points), while China's Yu Chengjie took home the bronze with an Asian record throw of 53.66 meters (943 points).
Living with spasticity and weakness on his left side since childhood, Haney previously won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games, which took place in 2023, where he also set an Asian record in javelin throw.
In his debut performance, Sandeep won gold in the Men’s 400m T64 event, clocking a time of 52.28 seconds, which set a new world record in the T44 category. Saudi Arabia's Nour Alsana claimed silver with a season-best time of 53.13 seconds, while Ajay Kumar secured bronze with a time of 53.61 seconds.
Sandeep's journey in para-athletics began in 2020, and he quickly made his mark by winning his first medal at the Para National Games in Bengaluru in 2021. He also earned a bronze in the 200m T44 at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi in 2025 and won gold in the 100m T44 at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in 2026.
Additionally, Nimisha Chakkungalparambil Suresh won a silver medal in the women's long jump T47 with a jump of 5.37 meters, scoring 818 Raza points.
Nimisha made her international debut at the Fazza World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai in February 2021, where she won gold in the women's long jump F46/47 with a jump of 5.25 meters. She also represented India at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, gaining valuable experience against tough competition. Her most notable achievement was winning gold in the women's long jump T47 event at the fourth Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, contributing significantly to India's successful medal tally.