Gadkari hails Ayush Verma's gold in Shot Put F53 at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari congratulated para athlete Ayush Verma on clinching gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026, with a winning throw of 8.16 metres, calling the achievement a proud moment for India's para athletics journey.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Verma won gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
His winning throw measured 8.16 metres , earning India a podium finish in para athletics.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari publicly congratulated Verma on October 21, 2026 via X.
The F53 category is for seated para athletes with impaired muscle power or limb movement.
The achievement adds to India's ongoing medal tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games.
A gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final — and an 8.16-metre throw that put India on top of the podium. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari took to X on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 to extend heartfelt congratulations to para athlete Ayush Verma for his commanding performance at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Ayush Verma's 8.16m gold at the Asian Para Games 2026
Verma's winning throw of 8.16 metres in the Men's Shot Put F53 category sealed the top spot for India at the continental para-sports showpiece. The F53 classification covers athletes with impaired muscle power or range of movement in their arms and legs who compete in a seated position — making every centimetre of distance a product of raw upper-body strength and technical precision.
Gadkari described the feat as reflecting 'unwavering determination and sporting excellence,' calling it 'another proud moment to India's glorious journey in Para Athletics.' The minister's post, hashtagged #Cheer4Bharat and #AsianParaGames2026, underscores a broader effort by public figures to amplify India's para-sport achievements on national platforms.
India's rising footprint in para athletics
India has maintained consistent — and growing — participation across successive editions of the Asian Para Games, with athletics regularly producing podium finishes. Recognition from senior ministers signals that para sport is no longer a footnote to mainstream sporting coverage; it is increasingly a point of national pride in its own right.
For Verma, the gold adds his name to a lineage of Indian throwers who have used the continental stage as a launchpad for bigger ambitions. The result also feeds into India's running medal tally at the 2026 Games, with more disciplines still to conclude.
Every gold medal in para athletics carries the weight of the athlete's own journey — and Ayush Verma just threw his the farthest it has ever gone.
Point of View
Which builds public familiarity with classification categories like F53 and pushes visibility beyond specialist audiences. Over successive Asian Para Games editions, India's improving medal haul has been leveraged to make the case for greater institutional investment in para-sports infrastructure. If that recognition translates into sustained funding and coaching pipelines, moments like Verma's gold could become the norm rather than the highlight.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ayush Verma para athlete?
Ayush Verma is an Indian para athlete who competes in shot put events. He won gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 Final at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a throw of 8.16 metres.
What is the F53 classification in para athletics?
The F53 classification covers athletes who compete in seated throwing events and have impaired muscle power or range of movement affecting their arms and legs.
What is India's performance at Asian Para Games 2026?
India has been winning medals across disciplines at the Asian Para Games 2026, with Ayush Verma's gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 being among the notable individual wins.
What did Nitin Gadkari say about Ayush Verma's gold medal?
Minister Nitin Gadkari described Verma's achievement as reflecting 'unwavering determination and sporting excellence' and called it 'another proud moment to India's glorious journey in Para Athletics.'
When did Ayush Verma win the Asian Para Games 2026 gold?
Nitin Gadkari's congratulatory post was published on October 21, 2026, indicating the Men's Shot Put F53 Final result came around that date.
