Nadda hails Ayush Verma's Gold in Shot Put F53 at Asian Para Games
Synopsis
Para-athlete Ayush Verma clinched gold in Men's Shot Put F53 at the 2026 Asian Para Games with the best performance in the field — his second medal of the Games. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda led the congratulations, calling the achievement a source of national pride.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Verma won gold in the Men's Shot Put F53 at the Asian Para Games 2026 .
His throw was the best among all contenders in the event, making him the dominant performer in the category.
This was Verma's second medal at the same edition of the Games, reflecting strong all-round consistency.
Union Health Minister J.
Nadda publicly congratulated Verma on October 21, 2026 via X.
India's para-sport presence at the Asian Para Games has grown steadily across successive editions.
A shot put soaring through the air — and with it, India's flag rising a little higher. Ayush Verma delivered a commanding gold-medal performance in the Men's Shot Put F53 event at the #AsianParaGames2026, finishing with the best throw among all contenders and claiming his second medal of the Games. Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda took to X on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, to celebrate the feat with a heartfelt message to the nation.
Verma's second medal — and the best throw in the field
What makes Verma's gold particularly striking is not just the colour of the medal, but the margin of excellence behind it. According to Nadda's post, Verma 'secured a second medal with the best performance among all contenders' — meaning he did not merely win; he dominated the Shot Put F53 category. The F53 classification covers athletes with significant impairments affecting the trunk and legs, who compete from a fixed seated position, making each throw a feat of raw upper-body power and precision technique.
For Verma, this gold builds on an earlier medal at the same Games, underscoring what Nadda called 'exceptional consistency and sporting excellence.' Two medals at a single Asian Para Games edition places him among the standout individual performers in India's contingent.
India's para-sport momentum on the continental stage
India has steadily grown its presence at the Asian Para Games across successive editions, with athletes across a widening range of disciplines climbing the podium. Each Games has brought fresh faces alongside established champions, and 2026 appears to be continuing that upward curve. Indian ministers and officials routinely amplify para-athlete victories on public platforms — a practice that has helped draw mainstream attention to a community of competitors who have long operated in the shadows of able-bodied sport.
Verma's double-medal showing is exactly the kind of result that fuels broader conversations about investment in para-sport infrastructure and athlete support systems back home.
Nadda's message: pride beyond the podium
Nadda's words — 'His remarkable achievement makes the entire nation proud' — carry a weight beyond a standard congratulatory post. As a senior Union Cabinet minister and the national president of the BJP, his public acknowledgement elevates Verma's victory into the national discourse, ensuring it reaches audiences well beyond dedicated sports followers. It is a reminder that para-sport triumphs, when amplified at the highest levels of government, resonate as symbols of national resilience and inclusion.
India's contingent continues to compete at the Asian Para Games, and more medals remain within reach. Verma, however, has already etched his name into the highlight reel of this edition.
Point of View
Designed to mainstream para-sport in a country where it has historically sat at the margins of public attention. Verma's double-medal performance at the 2026 Asian Para Games fits neatly into a broader government narrative of inclusive sporting excellence. Nadda's amplification — as both a Cabinet minister and the ruling party's national president — ensures the moment travels beyond sports pages into political and social conversations. Whether such visibility translates into sustained infrastructure investment for para-athletes remains the sharper, harder question worth watching.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ayush Verma and what did he win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Ayush Verma is an Indian para-athlete who won the gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F53 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games, posting the best performance among all competitors and claiming his second medal of the Games.
What is the F53 classification in para athletics?
The F53 classification in para athletics covers athletes with significant impairments affecting the trunk and lower limbs who compete from a fixed seated position, requiring exceptional upper-body strength and throwing technique.
What did J. P. Nadda say about Ayush Verma's gold medal?
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda called Verma's performance a display of 'exceptional consistency and sporting excellence' and said his achievement 'makes the entire nation proud,' posting his congratulations on X on October 21, 2026.
How many medals did Ayush Verma win at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Ayush Verma won at least two medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games, including the gold in Men's Shot Put F53, according to the post by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda.
Where are the 2026 Asian Para Games being held?
The specific host city of the 2026 Asian Para Games is not confirmed in available verified information, though the event is an established continental multi-sport competition for para-athletes from across Asia.
