Kishan Reddy Hails Nishad Kumar's Double Gold at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Nishad Kumar wins his second gold at Asian Para Games 2026 — a Games Record 2.04m in Men's High Jump T47 — making him only the third Indian to claim two golds in a single edition. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy hailed the feat on X.
Key Takeaways
Nishad Kumar won gold in the Men's High Jump T47 at Asian Para Games 2026 with a Games Record clearance of 2.04 metres .
He had already won gold in the Men's Long Jump T47 at the same Games, making it a double gold in a single edition.
Kumar becomes only the third Indian athlete to win two gold medals at a single Asian Para Games.
The T47 classification covers athletes with a single-limb arm impairment.
Kishan Reddy congratulated Kumar on X on 20 October 2026 , highlighting his 'talent and versatility.' India's para-athletes have recorded a steady rise in medal tallies at Asian and global events over the last decade.
Two golds. One games record. Nishad Kumar is rewriting what Indian para-athletics looks like at the Asian Para Games 2026 — and on Tuesday, 20 October, Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy made sure the nation paused to take note.
A Games Record in the High Jump T47
Kumar cleared 2.04 metres in the Men's High Jump T47 event, setting a new Games Record in the process. It is his second gold of these Games, following an earlier victory in the Men's Long Jump T47. That combination — high jump and long jump gold in a single edition — places him in rare company: he becomes only the third Indian athlete to win two gold medals at a single Asian Para Games.
The T47 classification covers athletes with an arm impairment affecting one limb, a category in which Kumar has consistently competed at the highest level in Asia and beyond.
Kishan Reddy's Salute to Nishad's Versatility
Reddy, who frequently uses social media to spotlight India's para-sport performers, wrote: 'Congratulations to Nishad Kumar on winning his second Gold Medal at the #AsianParaGames2026, setting a new Games Record of 2.04m in the Men's High Jump T47 event. After his Gold medal in the Men's Long Jump T47, Nishad has once again showcased his talent and versatility.' The minister added a wish that Kumar 'continue to scale new heights and bring many more laurels to the nation.'
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities across Asia, organised under the Asian Paralympic Committee. It sits directly in the competitive cycle that feeds into Paralympic qualification and preparation.
India's Para-Sport Surge — A Decade in the Making
Kumar's double gold is not an isolated flash. Over the last decade, India's para-athletes have recorded a steady, measurable rise in their medal tallies at both continental and global events. Ministerial recognition on platforms like X has become a visible part of that ecosystem — public praise that builds cultural acceptance and, advocates argue, nudges institutional support.
For Nishad Kumar specifically, the 2.04m Games Record signals that his peak is still ascending. The next test on the horizon: the Paralympic cycle, where every centimetre cleared and every metre jumped carries selection and legacy weight.
India sent an athlete to clear two bars in two different jumps disciplines — and he cleared them both higher than anyone had at these Games before. That is the sentence the record books will carry forward.
Point of View
While celebratory, also functions as soft policy signalling: it frames para-sport achievement as a national priority and maintains public pressure for sustained funding. With the next Paralympic cycle building, Kumar's 2.04m Games Record puts him firmly in the conversation for podium contention on the world stage. The question now is whether institutional backing matches the public applause.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many gold medals did Nishad Kumar win at Asian Para Games 2026?
Nishad Kumar won two gold medals at Asian Para Games 2026 — one in Men's Long Jump T47 and one in Men's High Jump T47, where he set a Games Record of 2.04 metres.
What is the T47 classification in para-athletics?
T47 is a para-athletics classification for athletes with an impairment affecting one arm or hand, allowing them to compete in track and field events including high jump and long jump.
What record did Nishad Kumar set at Asian Para Games 2026?
Nishad Kumar set a new Asian Para Games Record of 2.04 metres in the Men's High Jump T47 event at Asian Para Games 2026.
Who is the third Indian to win two gold medals in a single Asian Para Games edition?
Nishad Kumar became the third Indian athlete to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games after claiming gold in both Men's Long Jump T47 and Men's High Jump T47 at Asian Para Games 2026.
What did Kishan Reddy say about Nishad Kumar's achievement?
Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy congratulated Nishad Kumar on X, praising his 'talent and versatility' and expressing the wish that he 'continue to scale new heights and bring many more laurels to the nation.'
