Asian Para Games 2026: Haney Smashes World Record for Javelin Gold
Indian para-athlete Haney shatters the world record in javelin throw as India crosses the 100-medal mark at the Asian Para Games 2026.
India's campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, reached a fever pitch on Friday as para-athlete Haney delivered a historic performance. In a nail-biting finish, Haney shattered the world record in the men's javelin throw F37/38 event, securing a gold medal and propelling India further up the medal standings.
A Record-Breaking Finale
Haney's journey to the top of the podium was nothing short of dramatic. Saving his best for the very end, he produced a massive throw of 60.49 metres on his final attempt. This record-breaking effort not only guaranteed him the gold medal but also cemented his place in the history books.
This victory is particularly sweet for Haney, coming just two days after he claimed a bronze medal in the men's F37 discus throw, where he recorded a personal best of 57.04 metres.
Sandeep Adds Another World Record
The gold rush didn't stop with Haney. Para-athlete Sandeep mirrored the feat by setting a new world record in the men's 400m T64 event. Clocking in at 52.28 seconds, Sandeep beat the previous T44 world record held by Saudi Arabia's Nour Alsana by more than half a second to take the gold.
Adding to the athletics success, India's Ajay Kumar secured a bronze medal in the same event with a timing of 53.61 seconds.
Dominance in Badminton and Archery
India's versatility was on full display as gold medals poured in from other sporting disciplines:
- Para Badminton: Nitesh Kumar clinched gold in the men's singles SL3 final after a tough battle against fellow Indian Pramod Bhagat, winning 21-18, 21-16. Bhagat took home the silver. Meanwhile, Naveen Sivakumar dominated Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan 21-9, 21-17 to win gold in the men's singles SL4 final.
- Para Archery: The duo of Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi showcased clinical precision, defeating China 5-1 to secure gold in the men's recurve doubles.
A Haul of Silver and Bronze
The Indian contingent continued to add to its tally with several silver and bronze medals across various categories:
Silver Medalists:
- Thulasimathi Murugesan (Women's singles SU5 badminton)
- Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan (Women's singles SH6 badminton)
- Parmod Bijarnia (Men's 1500m T46 athletics)
- Nimisha Suresh (Women's long jump T47)
- Pooja Jatyan and Bhawna Choudhary (Women's recurve doubles archery)
Bronze Medalists:
In para table tennis, the men's doubles Class MD4 pair of Jehan Madan and Shubham Wadhwa secured a bronze medal for the country.
The Road to a New Milestone
With a stellar performance on Day 5, India has officially crossed the 100-medal milestone. The current tally stands at 102 medals, consisting of 26 gold, 33 silver, and 43 bronze. India currently holds the fourth position in the overall standings, while China leads the table with 344 medals.
The Indian squad is now eyeing a historic achievement: surpassing their previous best of 111 medals set during the 2023 Hangzhou edition. As the competition continues in Aichi-Nagoya, the momentum remains firmly with the Indian athletes.