Asian Para Games 2026: Anubhav, Rakeshbhai win 100m bronze for India
Synopsis
India's para-sprinters delivered a double bronze at Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with Anubhav Choudhary and Rakeshbhai Bhatt both setting personal bests in their respective 100m finals. The results lift India's track-event tally to nine medals — including three golds — underlining the growing depth of the country's para-athletics programme on the continental stage.
Key Takeaways
Anubhav Choudhary won bronze in the men's 100m T35 at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games with a personal-best 12.72 seconds .
Rakeshbhai Bhatt claimed bronze in the men's 100m T37 with a personal-best 11.50 seconds .
Iran's Alireza Zare (T35) and Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli (T37) won gold, both in Games Record times.
India's tally in track events at the Games rose to nine medals, including three golds .
Bhatt is a national record holder in T37 100m and an Asian record holder in T37 200m; he had earlier competed at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow .
Choudhary trains in Delhi under coach Rahul Panwar after developing his skills under Gaurav Tyagi in Uttar Pradesh .
India's para-athletics contingent claimed two more medals at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on Wednesday, 21 October, as Anubhav Choudhary and Rakeshbhai Bhatt secured bronze medals in their respective men's 100m finals. The twin podium finishes pushed India's track-event tally at the Games to nine medals, including three golds.
Choudhary's Career-Best Run in T35
Anubhav Choudhary clocked a personal-best 12.72 seconds to finish third in the men's 100m T35 final. Iran's Alireza Zare claimed gold in a Games Record of 12.32 seconds, while Iraq's Idrees Al-Zaidi took silver in 12.69 seconds — also a personal best — before Choudhary crossed the line to complete the podium.
The result carries personal significance for the sprinter, who hails from Chhur village near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Having navigated challenges from an early age, Choudhary developed his sprinting ability under coach Gaurav Tyagi before relocating to Delhi, where he now trains under Rahul Panwar. A personal best on a continental stage marks a meaningful step forward in his athletic career.
Bhatt Delivers in T37 Final
Rakeshbhai Bhatt produced an equally impressive display in the men's 100m T37 final, finishing in a personal-best 11.50 seconds to take bronze. Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli won gold in a Games Record of 11.31 seconds, and Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo claimed silver in a season-best 11.35 seconds.
Bhatt, who hails from Moti Babariyat village in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, has steadily built his profile among India's leading para-athletes. He holds a national record in the T37 100m and an Asian record in the T37 200m, and has competed across domestic championships and international meets. His most recent major outing was the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he finished fifth in the men's 100m T38 final with a season-best 11.82 seconds. Wednesday's bronze adds another international medal to his growing resume.
India's Growing Track Medal Tally
The two bronzes reflect India's consistent presence in sprint events at Aichi-Nagoya, with both athletes registering career-best timings at the continental Games. Notably, this is the latest in a series of strong para-athletics performances that have kept India competitive in track disciplines across the Games.
India's nine track medals, including three golds, underscore the depth developing within the country's para-sprint programme — a programme that has benefited from a growing network of specialist coaches and national training centres.
What's Next
With the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games still ongoing, India's athletics contingent will look to add to its medal count in the remaining events. For Choudhary and Bhatt, Wednesday's personal bests set a strong benchmark heading into future international cycles.
Point of View
Indian para-athletics medals at Asian Games were clustered around a handful of names; Choudhary and Bhatt represent a newer tier of athletes reaching personal bests at the continental level. The contrast with Bhatt's fifth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games just months ago is worth noting: the gap is closing, and it is closing through structured coaching rather than accident. If the national programme can maintain this trajectory, the Paris-to-Brisbane cycle could yield more than incremental gains.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the men's 100m T35 and T37 bronze medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
India's Anubhav Choudhary won the bronze in the men's 100m T35 final, and Rakeshbhai Bhatt claimed bronze in the men's 100m T37 final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on 21 October. Both athletes set personal-best timings in their respective events.
What timings did Choudhary and Bhatt clock in their finals?
Anubhav Choudhary clocked a personal-best 12.72 seconds in the T35 final, while Rakeshbhai Bhatt recorded a personal-best 11.50 seconds in the T37 final. Both timings were career bests on the continental stage.
Who won gold in the men's 100m T35 and T37 events?
Iran's Alireza Zare won gold in the T35 final with a Games Record of 12.32 seconds, and Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli took gold in the T37 final with a Games Record of 11.31 seconds.
What is India's overall track-event medal tally at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
India's tally in track events at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games stands at nine medals, including three golds, following the two bronzes won by Choudhary and Bhatt on Wednesday.
What is Rakeshbhai Bhatt's athletic background?
Rakeshbhai Bhatt is a national record holder in the T37 100m and an Asian record holder in the T37 200m. He hails from Moti Babariyat village in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, and most recently competed at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, finishing fifth in the men's 100m T38 final.
