Nadda hails Rinku Hooda's gold, Ajeet's silver at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A gold and a silver in the same event — India's para-athletics programme delivered a stunning double podium at the Asian Para Games 2026, and Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda was quick to mark the moment. Rinku Hooda claimed the top spot and Ajeet Singh Yadav took silver in the Men's Javelin Throw F46 event, writing a fresh line in Indian para-sport history on Monday, 19 October 2026.
Two throwers, one electrifying sweep of the podium
The F46 classification covers athletes with impairment affecting arm function, coordination, or limb deficiency — a category that demands extraordinary core strength and technique alongside sheer power. Rinku Hooda's gold-medal throw stood as the pinnacle of the competition, while Ajeet Singh Yadav's silver ensured India owned the top two steps of the podium. Minister Nadda called it a 'shining example of determination and excellence' and wished both athletes 'continued success in their future competitions.'
India's para-athletics recognition moment
Indian ministers have increasingly used social media as a near-real-time broadcast channel for para-sport milestones — a pattern that mirrors the government's stated emphasis on recognising achievement across all disability categories, not just headline Olympic disciplines. A double podium in a single throwing event is a rare outcome at any continental Games, and the Hooda–Yadav finish puts India's javelin depth squarely in the spotlight. The attention from a cabinet-level minister amplifies visibility for a sport that still fights for mainstream airtime.