Two Indian para-athletes climbed to the top of the podium at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and the tricolour rose with them. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday, October 23, 2026, extended warm congratulations to javelin thrower Sumit Antil and club throw specialist Pranav Soorma for winning gold medals at the quadrennial Games being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

In his post, CM Choudhary highlighted Antil's gold-winning throw of 72.46 metres in the men's javelin F64 category as a 'spectacular performance,' while also celebrating Soorma's triumph in the men's club throw F51 event. Translating his heartfelt words: 'Aap dono ki safalta sirf swarna padak hasil karne ki khushi nahi' — 'Your success is not merely the joy of winning a gold medal, but a victory of countless efforts and an undefeated, positive mindset.'

Antil's 72.46-metre gold and what it signals

Sumit Antil is no stranger to the sport's highest stage. A multiple-time Paralympic gold medallist, he has consistently redefined what is possible in para javelin with record-breaking distances. A throw of 72.46 metres at these Games underscores a trajectory of continuous improvement — the kind of number that does not arrive by accident, but through structured training, elite-level coaching, and the mental architecture to perform under pressure.

Soorma's club throw F51 gold — precision over power

Pranav Soorma competes in the F51 category, which demands exceptional upper-body technique from athletes with significant lower-limb impairment. His gold in the club throw event adds to a growing international medal ledger. Where Antil's event rewards explosive speed through a runway, Soorma's is a discipline of millimetre-level precision — two entirely different athletic vocabularies, one shared podium colour.

India's rising para-sport arc reaches Aichi-Nagoya

The backdrop to these individual victories is a national story gathering pace. At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, India registered a landmark haul of 111 medals — a sharp climb from earlier editions that reflected expanded government investment, dedicated training centres, and the integration of para athletes into flagship programmes such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). The 2026 Games in Aichi-Nagoya represent the next test of whether that upward curve has held.

CM Choudhary closed his message with a sentiment that echoed well beyond Bihar: 'Seeing the tricolour fly on the podium with honour is an emotionally overwhelming moment for every Indian. The country is proud of both of you.' As India's final medal tally at these Games takes shape, the performances of Antil and Soorma have already given the nation two reasons to stand tall.