Mandaviya hails Pranav Soorma's gold, Dharambir's bronze at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Pranav Soorma successfully defended his Asian Para Games title to win gold in Men's Club Throw F51 on October 23, 2026, as Dharambir secured bronze in the same event, drawing congratulations from Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
Key Takeaways
Pranav Soorma won Gold in Men's Club Throw F51 at the Asian Para Games 2026 , successfully defending his title.
Dharambir claimed the Bronze Medal in the same event, giving India two podium finishes from a single final.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly congratulated both athletes on October 23, 2026 .
At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou , India won a record 111 medals , reflecting sustained para sports growth.
The Sports Ministry has invested in dedicated training centres targeting specific para classifications, including club throw.
Both results feed into India's preparation cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics .
Two Indian para-athletes wrote their names into the record books on Friday, October 23, 2026 — and Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya was among the first to salute them. Pranav Soorma successfully defended his title to claim the Gold Medal in the Men's Club Throw F51 at the Asian Para Games 2026, while compatriot Dharambir delivered a brilliant performance to secure the Bronze Medal in the same event.
A title defence that cements Soorma's place at the top
Pranav Soorma competes in the F51 classification, which covers athletes with significant impairment affecting their trunk and lower limbs who compete seated. Defending a continental title in any para discipline is a formidable task — opponents study your technique, the bar is set from your own previous best, and the margin for error shrinks. Soorma cleared all of it. His gold continues a strong run for India in the club throw, an event that has become something of a national stronghold at Asian Para competition.
Dharambir adds bronze in the same F51 final
The remarkable element of Friday's F51 final was the presence of two Indians on the podium simultaneously. Dharambir, a seasoned competitor at Asian-level para events, threw well enough to take the bronze, ensuring India left the arena with medals at both ends of the podium. A one-two-three sweep was narrowly missed, but a gold-and-bronze outcome from a single event is a statement of depth rather than luck.
India's para sports machine and what drives it
The double-podium finish is not an isolated moment. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, India returned with 111 medals — its best-ever haul at the competition — signalling that systematic investment in para athletics was paying off. The Sports Ministry has channelled resources into dedicated training centres and targeted athlete welfare programmes, with specific classifications like club throw receiving focused attention. The results on the field are now vindicating those choices.
Minister Mandaviya, who holds dual charge of the Labour and Sports portfolios, has made public recognition of para athletes a consistent practice — amplifying their achievements on national platforms to drive visibility for a segment of Indian sport that has historically operated in the margins. His post on X carried the hashtag #Cheer4Bharat, a phrase that has become a rallying call around Indian sporting moments abroad.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics on the horizon, performances like Soorma's title defence feed directly into the selection and confidence pipeline for the biggest stage in para sport. India's club throwers have just announced, loudly, that they intend to be there.
Point of View
India's para contingent could enter the 2028 Los Angeles Games as genuine gold contenders rather than hopeful participants.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pranav Soorma and what did he win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Pranav Soorma is an Indian para-athlete competing in the F51 classification who successfully defended his title to win the Gold Medal in Men's Club Throw F51 at the Asian Para Games 2026 on October 23, 2026.
What is the F51 classification in para athletics?
The F51 classification covers field athletes with significant impairment affecting their trunk and lower limbs; competitors throw from a seated position, making events like club throw and discus throw part of this category.
Who is Dharambir and what medal did he win?
Dharambir is an Indian para-athlete in the F51 club throw category who won the Bronze Medal at the Asian Para Games 2026, sharing the podium with gold medallist Pranav Soorma.
How many medals did India win at the 2023 Asian Para Games?
India won 111 medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou — the country's best-ever haul at the competition.
What is the significance of India's double podium in the F51 club throw?
Two Indian athletes finishing on the same podium in a single event signals genuine depth in that discipline, reflecting the Sports Ministry's targeted investment in specific para classifications and boding well for India's preparations for the 2028 Paralympics.
