Asian Para Games: Hokato Hotozhe Smashes Personal Best for Bronze
India's Hokato Hotozhe secures a bronze medal in shot put, while Nishad Kumar smashes records to win gold at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
India's para-athletics campaign at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya has seen a surge of success, with Hokato Hotozhe clinching a hard-fought bronze medal in the men’s shot put F56/F57 final. In a display of grit and improvement, Hotozhe secured his place on the podium with a best throw of 14.65m, earning 999 Raza points.
A Redemption Story for Hotozhe
This bronze medal marks a significant leap forward for Hokato Hotozhe. Having finished in fourth place during the 2022 edition, the athlete returned to the arena with a point to prove. Not only did he climb the rankings to secure a medal, but he also improved his previous personal best by a substantial 1.17m.
The Battle for the Podium
The competition was fierce, with athletes from across Asia pushing the limits of the sport. The gold medal was claimed by Iran's Yasin Khosravi, who delivered a powerhouse performance of 15.25m, setting a new Games record in the process. Following closely was Haidr Salamh of Saudi Arabia, who took home the silver with a throw of 14.97m.
India had another strong contender in the event, Soman Rana. Despite a valiant effort and a throw of 13.80m (earning 942 points), Rana finished in fourth place. This was a shift in fortune for Rana, who had previously secured a bronze medal in the 2022 Games with a throw of 14.42m.
Nishad Kumar Sets New Games Record
While the shot put event provided a podium finish, the high jump saw an absolute masterclass from Indian para-athletics star Nishad Kumar. Competing in the men’s high jump T47 event, Nishad soared to a gold medal finish.
Nishad cleared a towering 2.04 metres, not only securing the top spot but also establishing a new Games Record. His dominant performance has further cemented India's reputation as a powerhouse in the high jump discipline on the international stage, adding a prestigious gold to the Indian contingent's tally at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games.