CM Rekha Gupta Hails India's Double Medal Haul at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta celebrated India's double podium at the Asian Para Games 2026, with Pradeep Kumar winning silver (27.45m) and Ayush Verma clinching bronze (17.88m) in the Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 — both athletes posting personal bests.
Key Takeaways
Pradeep Kumar won silver in Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 with a throw of 27.45 metres at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Ayush Verma claimed bronze in the same event with a throw of 17.88 metres .
Both athletes recorded personal-best distances , according to Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's post.
India secured a rare silver-bronze double in a single para athletics event at the continental games.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta extended congratulations via X on 20 October 2026 .
The result adds to India's growing momentum in para sports at the Asian Para Games level.
Two throws. Two personal bests. Two medals on the same day — Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta took to X on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 to celebrate a rare double for India in the Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 at the Asian Para Games 2026, where Pradeep Kumar claimed silver and Ayush Verma secured bronze in the same event.
Pradeep's silver throw and Ayush's landmark bronze
Pradeep Kumar launched his javelin to 27.45 metres to earn the silver medal, while Ayush Verma registered 17.88 metres for the bronze — both athletes posting personal-best distances according to CM Gupta's post. The F53/54 classification covers seated throwers with impairment affecting trunk and lower limbs, making the precision and power of these throws all the more remarkable. A single event producing two podium finishes for one nation in para athletics is a genuinely uncommon achievement at the continental level.
India's para sports momentum at the continental stage
India has steadily expanded its footprint in para sports over recent years, investing in dedicated training infrastructure and increasing athlete participation at Asian and global meets. Podium doubles in a single para athletics event reflect the depth that support structures have begun to build. CM Gupta's post, tagged #Cheer4Bharat, is part of a consistent pattern of political leaders amplifying individual para athlete achievements — a visibility push that advocates argue helps shift public perception of disability and sport in India.
For a country that has progressively climbed the Asian Para Games medal table, a silver-bronze sweep in javelin adds real weight to the overall tally — and sets a bar for India's para athletes heading into subsequent Paralympic qualifying cycles.
Point of View
Not just isolated talent. The fact that both Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma posted personal bests suggests training and preparation quality is rising, not merely participation. Senior political leaders amplifying these moments — as CM Rekha Gupta has done here — carry strategic value: visibility for para athletes has historically translated into improved funding and public support. The broader arc points toward India fielding increasingly competitive para contingents at future Paralympic Games.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pradeep Kumar and what medal did he win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Pradeep Kumar is an Indian para athlete who won the silver medal in Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 at the Asian Para Games 2026, with a throw of 27.45 metres .
What medal did Ayush Verma win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Ayush Verma won the bronze medal in Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 at the Asian Para Games 2026 with a distance of 17.88 metres , a personal best.
What is the F53/54 classification in para athletics?
The F53/54 classification in para athletics covers seated field event athletes — such as javelin throwers — who have impairment affecting trunk control and lower limb function.
Why did Rekha Gupta congratulate India's para athletes?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta posted congratulations on X after Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma both medalled in the same event at the Asian Para Games 2026 , celebrating what she called 'double glory for India'.
When are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 is a continental multi-sport event for para athletes held in Asia; India's javelin double was recorded on 20 October 2026 .
