Asian Para Games: High Jump Dominance as Praveen and Banti Clinch Gold and Silver
Praveen Kumar sets a record for gold and Banti takes silver in high jump, while Rakeshbhai Bhatt wins bronze in 100m at the Asian Para Games 2026.
India's campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026 reached a thrilling peak on Wednesday as para-athletes delivered a powerhouse performance in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The highlight of the day was a spectacular one-two finish in the men's high jump T64 event, where India's Praveen Kumar and Banti swept the top two spots on the podium.
Praveen Kumar Smashes Games Record
Two-time Paralympic medallist Praveen Kumar put on a masterclass in the high jump T64. His journey to the gold medal was a series of escalating triumphs. He first signaled his dominance by clearing 1.95 metres, which equaled the existing Games record.
Not satisfied with a tie, Praveen cleared 2.00 metres on his very first attempt. He eventually pushed the boundaries further, scaling 2.05 metres on his third attempt to set a brand new Asian Para Games record, securing the gold medal in style.
Banti and Rakeshbhai Bhatt Add to the Tally
Complementing Praveen's gold, Banti delivered a career-defining performance. He achieved a personal best jump of 1.92 metres, which was enough to secure the silver medal and ensure India's complete dominance over the T64 high jump event.
The success continued on the track in the men's 100m T37 final. Rakeshbhai Bhatt clocked a personal best of 11.50 seconds to bag the bronze medal. The gold in this event went to Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli (11.31 seconds), while Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo took the silver with a time of 11.35 seconds.
Mixed Fortunes in Swimming, Badminton and Long Jump
India's athletes showed strength across various disciplines, though results were varied:
Para-Swimming and Long Jump
- Himanshu Nandal: Having already secured a bronze in the 400m freestyle S11, Nandal has now qualified for the men's 100m breaststroke SB11 final. He clocked 1:21.52 in the heats to advance as the fourth-fastest swimmer.
- Sujith MS: In the men's long jump T13 final, Sujith finished in sixth place with a best jump of 5.74 metres.
Para-Badminton Updates
In the badminton arena, Naveen Sivakumar surged into the men's singles SL4 semifinals after a dominant 21-14, 21-4 victory over South Korea's Kyung Hwan Shin, a match that lasted just 26 minutes. With Paralympic medallist Suhas Yathiraj also in the semifinals, India is guaranteed at least one more medal in this category.
However, it was a disappointing end for Ruthick Ragupathi in the men's singles SU5 category. His campaign concluded in the quarterfinals following a 19-21, 14-21 defeat against China's Mingpan Li in a 37-minute battle.
India's Standing in the Medal Tally
With this latest haul of medals, India's overall tally has climbed to 41 medals. The breakdown includes 11 gold, 13 silver, and 17 bronze, placing the nation joint fifth in the overall standings as the competition progresses in Aichi-Nagoya.