Sumit Antil defends Asian Para Games gold in India's javelin podium sweep
Synopsis
Sumit Antil's 72.46m throw defended his Asian Para Games javelin title as India swept the podium — a first for the country in the event. But the bigger story is India's record-breaking 114-medal haul at Aichi-Nagoya, eclipsing its previous best of 111 from Hangzhou and crossing 30 gold medals for the first time.
Key Takeaways
Sumit Antil defended his Asian Para Games gold with a 72.46m throw in the Men's Javelin Throw at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on 23 October .
India swept the javelin podium: Mahendra Gurjar (silver, 59.03m ) and Sandip Sargar (bronze, 64.48m ) both broke Games records.
Pranav Soorma won gold in Men's Club Throw F51 with a Games record of 32.87m ; Dharambir took bronze with 27.71m .
India's medal tally reached 114 (30 gold, 35 silver, 49 bronze) — its best-ever at the Asian Para Games, surpassing the 111-medal record from Hangzhou.
Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi beat reigning World Champions China 21-16, 21-13 to win Women's Doubles badminton gold.
World and Paralympic champion Sumit Antil delivered a commanding performance on 23 October at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, defending his Asian Para Games gold medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F42–F44/F61–F64 with a massive throw of 72.46 metres. In a dominant display, India swept all three podium places in the event, underlining the country's growing strength in para-athletics.
India's Javelin Podium Sweep
Mahendra Gurjar (F42) claimed the silver medal with a throw of 59.03m, accumulating 1,066 Raza points, while Sandip Sargar (F44) took bronze with a distance of 64.48m and 1,006 Raza points. Both athletes broke the Games record in their respective categories. The Raza point system is a mathematical framework used to fairly compare and rank athletes competing across different disability classifications on a level playing field.
More Medals on a Record-Breaking Day
Pranav Soorma also struck gold in the Men's Club Throw F51 event, setting a Games record with a throw of 32.87m. Compatriot Dharambir added a bronze in the same event, hurling the club to 27.71m. Veteran Amit Kumar Saroha narrowly missed the podium, finishing fifth with 27.26m. Para track athlete Sandeep also contributed to India's tally, having bagged a bronze in the 100m T64 event with a time of 11.67 seconds, adding to his earlier gold in the 400m T64 at the same Games.
India's Best-Ever Asian Para Games Haul
India has now registered its best-ever performance at the Asian Para Games, surpassing its previous record of 111 medals set at the Hangzhou Para Games. At the Aichi-Nagoya Games, the Indian contingent has accumulated 114 medals — comprising 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze — also surpassing the previous gold medal record of 29 from Hangzhou.
Badminton Duo Stuns World Champions
Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi claimed gold in the Women's Doubles SL3-SU5 badminton event, defeating reigning World Champions Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao of China in straight games — 21-16 and 21-13. The victory avenged India's loss to the same pair in the 2025 Asian Championships final and upgraded the duo's silver from the previous Games edition to gold. Earlier in the day, Thulasimathi had also paired with Nitesh Kumar to claim silver in the Mixed Doubles SL3-SU5 event.
What This Means for Indian Para-Sport
This record-breaking haul at Aichi-Nagoya reflects a sustained institutional investment in para-athletics in India over the past decade, with athletes like Antil emerging as consistent world-beaters. India's podium sweep in the javelin — across three different disability classifications — is particularly notable, signalling depth beyond a single star performer. With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics on the horizon, these results will sharpen selection debates and raise expectations considerably.
Point of View
But the more revealing number is 114 — India's all-time record medal haul at these Games, achieved with depth across disciplines rather than reliance on a handful of champions. A javelin podium sweep across three disability classifications suggests a pipeline, not just a star. The question now is whether the system that produced this performance can replicate it at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, where the field widens and margins narrow. India's para-sport structure has improved markedly, but translating Asian dominance into Paralympic medals at scale remains the unfinished chapter.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sumit Antil achieve at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Sumit Antil defended his Asian Para Games gold medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F42–F44/F61–F64 with a throw of 72.46 metres at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on 23 October. It was his second gold at the continental showpiece, and India swept all three podium places in the event.
How many medals has India won at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games?
India has won 114 medals at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games — 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze — which is its best-ever performance at the Games. This surpasses the previous record of 111 medals set at the Hangzhou Para Games, also breaking India's previous high of 29 gold medals.
Who are Mahendra Gurjar and Sandip Sargar?
Mahendra Gurjar (F42) and Sandip Sargar (F44) are Indian para-javelin athletes who claimed silver and bronze respectively behind Sumit Antil at the 2026 Asian Para Games. Both athletes broke Games records in their categories — Gurjar with 59.03m and Sargar with 64.48m.
How did India's badminton pair perform at the Games?
Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Joshi won gold in Women's Doubles SL3-SU5 badminton, defeating reigning World Champions Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao of China 21-16 and 21-13. The win avenged their defeat at the 2025 Asian Championships final and upgraded their silver from the previous edition to gold.
What is the Raza point system used in para-athletics?
The Raza point system is a mathematical framework that allows fair comparison and ranking of athletes from different disability classifications competing in the same event. It creates a level playing field by converting raw performance figures into standardised points.
