Mandaviya hails Nishad Kumar's second gold at Asian Para Games 2026
Synopsis
TOPS-funded para-athlete Nishad Kumar clinched his second gold at the Asian Para Games 2026, clearing 2.04m in Men's High Jump T47 to set a new Games Record. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya hailed the achievement as a moment of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Nishad Kumar won his second gold medal at the Asian Para Games 2026 in a single edition.
He cleared 2.04 metres in the Men's High Jump T47 , setting a new Games Record .
Nishad competes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) , launched in 2014 to fund elite Indian athletes.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya publicly recognised the achievement on 20 October 2026 .
The result adds to India's push to treat para-sport medals as central to its international sports strategy.
A bar set at 2.04 metres. A Games Record smashed. And Nishad Kumar standing atop the podium for the second time at the Asian Para Games 2026 — India's para-athletics story just got bigger. Union Labour and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the TOPS athlete on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, celebrating the feat as a moment of national pride.
A 2.04m clearance that rewrites the record books
Competing in the Men's High Jump T47 category, Nishad Kumar cleared 2.04 metres to win gold — a mark that constitutes a new Games Record at the Asian Para Games 2026. The T47 classification covers athletes with an arm impairment, and the high jump demands explosive technique alongside raw power. That Nishad has now claimed two gold medals at this edition of the Games underscores a consistency that goes well beyond a single performance.
TOPS investment behind the podium finish
Nishad Kumar trains under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), the flagship central programme launched in 2014 to identify and fund India's best athletes — including para-athletes — with personalised financial support, coaching, and competition exposure. His back-to-back golds at these Games are precisely the kind of return TOPS was designed to produce. Minister Mandaviya, in his post, specifically flagged Nishad's status as a 'TOPS athlete', linking state investment directly to the result on the field.
India's para-sports push at a quadrennial showcase
The Asian Para Games — held every four years for elite para-athletes across the continent — have become a key proving ground on India's sports calendar. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has progressively expanded funding and training infrastructure for para-sports alongside able-bodied programmes, treating para-athlete medal tallies as integral to India's broader international sports standing. Each medal won here also feeds into preparation cycles for the bigger stage: the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
For a young athlete who has already twice climbed to the top of an Asian Para Games podium in a single edition, that next horizon looks very reachable indeed.
Point of View
Specific social-media recognition is consistent with the Modi government's deliberate strategy of amplifying para-athlete achievements to shift public perception of disability sport from charity to competitive excellence. With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics now on the horizon, performances like this carry selection and funding weight beyond ceremonial pride. The real test will be whether the infrastructure behind Nishad's success scales to a wider pool of para-athletes before the quadrennial pressure of the Paralympics arrives.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nishad Kumar the para-athlete?
Nishad Kumar is an Indian para-athlete who competes in the Men's High Jump T47 category, which is for athletes with arm impairments. He is funded under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) and has won medals at major international para-sports competitions.
What is the T47 classification in para-athletics?
T47 is a para-athletics classification for athletes with an impairment affecting one arm, such as loss of limb or reduced function. Athletes in this class compete in track and field events, including high jump, under rules adapted to their impairment.
What is the TOPS scheme and how does it support para-athletes?
The Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, provides personalised financial support, coaching, equipment, and competition exposure to India's elite athletes — including para-athletes — to help them win medals at global events.
What is the Asian Para Games?
The Asian Para Games is a quadrennial multi-sport event for para-athletes from across Asia, organised under the Asian Paralympic Committee. It serves as a major international benchmark for para-athletes preparing for the Paralympic Games.
How many golds has Nishad Kumar won at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Nishad Kumar has won two gold medals at the Asian Para Games 2026, with his latest coming in the Men's High Jump T47 event where he cleared 2.04 metres to set a new Games Record.
