Asian Para Games 2026: Ashok Malik wins silver in Men's 65 kg para powerlifting
Synopsis
A polio survivor from Sonipat who picked up powerlifting after watching the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Ashok Kumar Malik — a 17-time national champion — added the Asian Para Games silver to a career medal haul spanning three continents. His 192 kg lift in Nagoya keeps him firmly in contention for a 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics spot.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Kumar Malik won the silver medal in Men's 65 kg para powerlifting at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on 20 October 2026 .
Malik successfully lifted 192 kg in his second attempt; his final-attempt bid of 201 kg was unsuccessful.
He is a 17-time national champion from Gohana, Sonipat, Haryana , who overcame polio at age five .
Previous international medals include gold at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championship , gold at the 2024 Pattaya World Cup , and bronze at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games .
With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics approaching, Malik remains a strong contender for a Paralympic berth in the 65 kg category.
India's Ashok Kumar Malik claimed the silver medal in the Men's 65 kg para powerlifting final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on 20 October 2026, adding another podium finish to an already distinguished international career. The Haryana-born lifter produced a composed performance under pressure to secure India's place on the podium.
How the Final Unfolded
Malik opened his campaign with a successful lift of 187 kg in his first attempt, before stepping up to successfully clear 192 kg in his second attempt — the weight that ultimately sealed his silver. His bid for a higher mark came unstuck in the third attempt, where he could not complete the 201 kg lift. In para powerlifting, each athlete receives three attempts, with the ranking determined by the highest successful lift; every kilogram matters.
Para powerlifting is contested under bench press rules and is open to athletes with lower limb disabilities and those of short stature. The sport demands not only raw strength but precision technique, with a failed final attempt often separating the podium places.
A Career Built on Resilience
The 17-time national champion, originally from Mirzapur Khedi Tehsil in Gohana, Sonipat district, Haryana, contracted polio at the age of five. He took up powerlifting in 2011 after watching the 2010 Commonwealth Games during his college years in Delhi — a moment he has cited as the spark that ignited his sporting ambition.
His journey has been shaped by personal loss and community support in equal measure. In 2020, Ashok lost his father, leaving his mother to support the family. His aunt stepped in to provide crucial resources, his coach JP Singh guided his technical development, and friend Vikram Singh Mor assisted with training and nutrition needs.
International Medal Haul
Malik's continental record is extensive. He won gold at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championship — a result he has described as his proudest achievement — before claiming bronze at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games and another bronze at the 2026 Asian Championship.
On the World Cup circuit, he added a silver at the 2023 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Egypt, a gold at the 2024 Pattaya World Cup, and a bronze at the 2024 Tbilisi World Cup. The Aichi-Nagoya silver now sits alongside a medal haul that spans three continents and more than a decade of elite competition.
India's Para Powerlifting Footprint
Malik's performance at Aichi-Nagoya reflects a broader deepening of India's para-sports presence at the Asian level. This comes amid growing institutional support for para-athletes in India, even as athletes like Ashok have historically built their careers on personal grit and localised support networks rather than centralised infrastructure. His podium finish keeps India competitive in a discipline where China and Iran have traditionally dominated the medal standings.
With the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics on the horizon, Malik's consistency at the continental level positions him as a credible contender for a Paralympic berth in the 65 kg category.
Point of View
Not a sports authority, kept him in competition during his most difficult years. India's para powerlifting medals continue to arrive despite the system, not because of it. If the institutional investment now beginning to flow into para-sports had been there a decade earlier, Malik's bronze in Hangzhou 2022 might well have been a gold — and the 201 kg third attempt in Nagoya might not have been a stretch.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Ashok Kumar Malik win at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Ashok Kumar Malik won the silver medal in the Men's 65 kg para powerlifting final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games. He secured the podium finish with a successful lift of 192 kg in his second attempt.
What is para powerlifting and how is it judged?
Para powerlifting is a bench-press discipline open to athletes with lower limb disabilities and those of short stature. Each competitor receives three attempts, and the ranking is determined by the highest weight successfully lifted.
What is Ashok Malik's background and how did he start powerlifting?
Ashok Kumar Malik is from Mirzapur Khedi Tehsil in Gohana, Sonipat district, Haryana. He contracted polio at age five and took up powerlifting in 2011 after watching the 2010 Commonwealth Games while studying in Delhi.
What are Ashok Malik's major international achievements?
Malik is a 17-time national champion with medals across three major circuits: gold at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championship, bronze at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games, silver at the 2023 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Egypt, gold at the 2024 Pattaya World Cup, and bronze at the 2024 Tbilisi World Cup.
What does Ashok Malik's Nagoya silver mean for his Paralympic prospects?
The silver at the 2026 Asian Para Games reinforces Malik's standing as one of India's leading para powerlifters ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. His consistent podium record at the continental and World Cup level makes him a credible contender for a Paralympic berth in the 65 kg category.
