Asian Para Games: Javelin Double-Podium and Bronze Haul for India
Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma secure a double podium in javelin, while Sonalben Patel and Praveen Sharma add to India's tally at the Asian Para Games.
India's para-athletes continued their impressive run at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, securing a total of four medals on Tuesday. The highlights of the day were the stellar performances in the men's javelin throw, where India achieved a double-podium finish, alongside crucial bronze medals in para table tennis and shot put.
Javelin Throw: A Double Triumph
The men's javelin throw F53/F54 event witnessed a dominant display by Indian athletes. Pradeep Kumar claimed the silver medal after recording a best throw of 27.45 metres, which earned him 901 Raza points. Joining him on the podium was Ayush Verma, who secured the bronze medal with a throw of 17.88 metres and 793 Raza points.
Notably, both Kumar and Verma achieved personal bests during their medal-winning attempts. The gold medal in this category went to Iran’s Erfan Bondori, who led the field with a throw of 30.24 metres and 986 Raza points.
This achievement marks the second time India has secured a double podium in javelin at these Games, following the silver and bronze wins by Rinku Hooda and Ajeet Singh in the men's F46 event on Monday.
Success in Table Tennis and Shot Put
India's medal tally grew further across other disciplines on Tuesday:
- Para Table Tennis: Sonalben Patel earned a bronze medal in the women's singles Class 3 event. Patel reached the podium after a tough semi-final encounter against South Korea's Yoon Jiyu, where she lost in straight games (7-11, 5-11, 6-11). This followed another bronze win for India in para table tennis earlier in the day by Bhavina Patel.
- Shot Put: Praveen Sharma secured a bronze medal in the men's shot put F11 event. Sharma showed immense grit, delivering his best throw of 13.86 metres—a personal best—on his sixth and final attempt to clinch the third spot.
Iranian Dominance in Shot Put
While Sharma secured bronze, the men's shot put F11 event was dominated by Iran. Amirhossein Alipour took the gold and Mahdi Olad took the silver. Alipour particularly stood out by setting a new Asian record with a massive throw of 14.99 metres.