Sumit Antil's 74.82m gold headlines India's dominant close at Indian Open Para Athletics 2026
Synopsis
Sumit Antil didn't just win — he won by nearly 12 metres. His 74.82m javelin throw at the 8th Indian Open Para Athletics 2026 in Bengaluru was the standout moment of a final day that also featured Asian Para Games champion Deepthi Jeevanji and Paralympic medallist Nishad Kumar, signalling India's para athletics depth ahead of a packed international season.
Key Takeaways
Sumit Antil won Men's Javelin F64 gold with a throw of 74.82m at the 8th Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship 2026 in Bengaluru .
Nishad Kumar cleared 2.05m to claim Men's High Jump T47 gold for Himachal Pradesh .
Deepthi Jeevanji won Women's 400m T20 gold in 57.84 seconds , continuing her strong run of form.
Haryana dominated the javelin events, winning gold in the F46, F57, and F64 categories.
The three-day championship, organised by the Paralympic Committee of India , concluded at Shree Kanteerava Stadium on 28 May 2026 .
Paralympic champion Sumit Antil was the undisputed star of the concluding day at the 8th Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship 2026, hurling the javelin to 74.82m in the Men's Javelin Throw F64 event on Wednesday, 28 May at the Shree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The gold-medal performance capped a dominant team showing by India on the final day of the three-day meet.
Antil and Kumar Lead the Podium Charge
Representing Haryana, Antil's 74.82m throw was in a class of its own, with Maharashtra's Sandip Sargar taking silver at 62.88m and Rajasthan's Sandeep claiming bronze at 61.83m — a gap of nearly 12 metres separating gold from silver. Paralympic medallist Nishad Kumar was equally commanding in the Men's High Jump T47, clearing 2.05m to win gold for Himachal Pradesh, with Haryana's Ram Pal taking silver at 1.86m.
More Javelin Gold for Haryana
Haryana continued its medal haul across javelin categories. Rinku won the Men's Javelin Throw F46 gold with a best effort of 61.70m, ahead of Uttar Pradesh's Ajeet Singh (60.72m, silver) and Ravi Kumar (59.33m, bronze — also UP). In the Men's Javelin Throw F57, Haryana's Parveen Kumar topped the podium at 45.02m, with Uttarakhand's Hem Chandra (42.60m) and Tamil Nadu's Balasubramanian Arulraj (40.62m) completing the podium.
Women's Track and Field Highlights
Asian Para Games champion Deepthi Jeevanji of Telangana reinforced her status as one of India's premier para athletes, winning the Women's 400m T20 in 57.84 seconds. Haryana's Bhuvi Agrawal and Pooja finished second and third respectively. On the track, Andhra Pradesh's Lalitha Killaka claimed the Women's 200m T11 title in 29.97 seconds, while Uttar Pradesh's Preeti Pal took gold in the Women's 200m T35 with a clocking of 29.33 seconds. In the field, Gujarat's Bhavanaben Ajab Chaudhary won the Women's Javelin Throw F46 with 37.01m, ahead of Rajasthan's Lalita Saini (silver) and Andhra Pradesh's Hosuru Uppara Shivani (bronze).
Championship in Context
Organised under the aegis of the Paralympic Committee of India, the three-day championship at Shree Kanteerava Stadium served as a key competitive platform ahead of upcoming international para athletics events. The breadth of medal winners — spanning Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and others — underscored the growing geographic spread of para athletics talent across India. Notably, this is the eighth edition of the championship, which has grown into one of the most important domestic para athletics gatherings on the calendar.
With several top performers using the meet as a form-sharpener ahead of international competitions, the results are expected to inform selection discussions within the Paralympic Committee in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Jumping, and track events suggests the Paralympic Committee's domestic competition structure is working. The real question is whether this competitive depth translates into medal conversions on the international stage, where classification nuances and foreign competition are far stiffer. India's para athletes have historically peaked at home; the upcoming international calendar will be the true benchmark.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sumit Antil achieve at the Indian Open Para Athletics 2026?
Sumit Antil won the Men's Javelin Throw F64 gold medal with a throw of 74.82m at the 8th Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship 2026 in Bengaluru on 28 May 2026. His nearest competitor, Sandip Sargar, finished nearly 12 metres behind with 62.88m.
Where was the 8th Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship held?
The championship was held at Shree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru over three days, concluding on 28 May 2026. It was organised under the aegis of the Paralympic Committee of India.
Who is Deepthi Jeevanji and how did she perform?
Deepthi Jeevanji is an Asian Para Games champion from Telangana. She won gold in the Women's 400m T20 event with a timing of 57.84 seconds, with Haryana athletes Bhuvi Agrawal and Pooja taking silver and bronze.
How did Nishad Kumar perform at the championship?
Paralympic medallist Nishad Kumar won gold in the Men's High Jump T47 event for Himachal Pradesh, clearing 2.05m. Haryana's Ram Pal finished second with a clearance of 1.86m.
Which states dominated the 8th Indian Open Para Athletics Championship?
Haryana was the most dominant state, winning gold across multiple javelin categories (F46, F57, F64) and finishing on the podium in several other events. Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh also featured prominently on the medals table.
