CM Dhami Hails Indian Para Athletes' Triple Podium at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
India claimed gold, silver, and bronze in the men's high jump T63 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated Shailesh Kumar (gold), Varun Bhati (silver), and Rahul (bronze) for their all-India podium sweep.
Key Takeaways
India swept the podium in the men's high jump T63 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Shailesh Kumar won gold, Varun Bhati won silver, and Rahul won bronze in the same event.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated all three athletes on October 22, 2026 .
Dhami said the athletes 'brought honour to the country through their outstanding performance.' The result keeps India's para-sport momentum alive ahead of the 2028 Paralympic Games .
India swept the podium in the men's high jump T63 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan — a clean sweep that sent three Indian para-athletes to the top, middle, and lowest step of the same medal stand. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was among the first to acknowledge the feat, posting his congratulations on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Gold for Shailesh, Silver for Varun, Bronze for Rahul
Shailesh Kumar claimed the gold medal, Varun Bhati secured silver, and Rahul took bronze — an all-Indian finish in a single athletics event that is as rare as it is emphatic. CM Dhami offered his congratulations to all three athletes, writing in Hindi that they had 'brought honour to the country through their outstanding performance' (apne shanadar pradarshan se desh ka maan badhaya hai).
Varun Bhati's Return to the Continental Stage
Varun Bhati is a familiar name on the Indian para-athletics circuit, having competed at both the Paralympics and the Asian Para Games across earlier editions. His silver in Aichi-Nagoya adds another continental podium to a career that has consistently made him one of India's most recognised para-athletes in field events. For Shailesh Kumar and Rahul, the gold and bronze respectively mark a statement arrival — or consolidation — on the Asian stage.
A Decade of Growing Recognition for Para Sport in India
The congratulatory post from CM Dhami is part of a broader and deepening pattern of official recognition for para-athletes at the state and national level. Over the past decade, Indian political leadership has moved from token acknowledgement to visible, public celebration of para-sport achievements — a shift that mirrors incremental growth in institutional support, coaching infrastructure, and classification awareness. The Asian Para Games, held every four years, serves as the most visible continental benchmark ahead of the Paralympics cycle. With the 2028 Paralympic Games now firmly in view, performances like this triple podium carry weight beyond the medal tally.
Point of View
And the T63 high jump sweep in Aichi-Nagoya signals a meaningful depth of talent — not just individual brilliance. CM Dhami's public acknowledgement fits a well-established BJP governance pattern of foregrounding para-sport victories as symbols of inclusive national achievement. However, the more substantive question is whether this podium signals structural improvements in training, classification support, and athlete funding, or remains an isolated peak. With Paris 2024 behind and Los Angeles 2028 ahead, India's para-athletics pipeline will face its sharpest scrutiny yet.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in men's high jump T63 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Shailesh Kumar won the gold medal in the men's high jump T63 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
What is the T63 classification in para athletics?
The T63 classification in para athletics is for athletes with a single above-knee amputation who compete using a prosthetic leg. High jump in this class is among the most technically demanding para field events.
Did India sweep the podium at Asian Para Games 2026 in high jump?
Yes. Shailesh Kumar (gold), Varun Bhati (silver), and Rahul (bronze) gave India a clean sweep of all three medals in the men's high jump T63 at the 2026 Asian Para Games .
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan .
