Ayush Verma wins gold in Shot Put F53 at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games
Synopsis
Ayush Verma, who only entered para-sports in 2020, is now an Asian Para Games gold medallist — topping the Men's Shot Put F53 podium in Nagoya with 8.16m. It is his second medal at these Games, and part of a wider Indian surge that included a full podium sweep in discus throw and Nishad Kumar becoming a double champion.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Verma won gold in Men's Shot Put F53 at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026 with a best throw of 8.16m .
Iran's Alireza Hemami took silver ( 8.09m ) and Kazakhstan's Makhambet Serikkaliyev won bronze ( 6.81m ).
This is Ayush's second medal at these Games — he also won bronze in the Javelin Throw F53/F54 .
Nishad Kumar became a double champion, winning both Long Jump T47 and High Jump T47 (Games record of 2.04m ).
India swept all three medals in Men's Discus Throw F43/F44/F62/F64 , led by Devender Kumar's gold with 49.71m .
Ayush has been competing in para-athletics since 2020 under coach Robin Kumar .
India's Ayush Verma claimed the gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F53 final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, with a best throw of 8.16 metres. The victory adds to India's growing medal haul at the Games and marks a landmark personal milestone for the young para-athlete.
Final Standings and Margin of Victory
Ayush edged out a competitive field to top the podium. Iran's Alireza Hemami claimed silver with a throw of 8.09m, just 7 centimetres short of the gold-winning effort. Kazakhstan's Makhambet Serikkaliyev took bronze with 6.81m, a considerably larger gap behind the top two. The F53 classification is for athletes with limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power, or impaired range of movement — events that demand exceptional upper-body strength, coordination, and technical consistency in seated throwing.
Ayush's Double-Medal Run in Japan
Notably, this is Ayush Verma's second medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. He had earlier won a bronze in the Men's Javelin Throw F53/F54, sharing the podium with compatriot Pradeep Kumar, who took silver in that event with a personal best of 27.45m. Ayush had recorded 17.88m in the javelin to secure that bronze. The double-podium finish reflects the depth of India's para-athletics programme in seated throwing events.
From 2020 Debut to Asian Para Games Gold
Ayush entered competitive para-sports in 2020, taking up shot put under the guidance of coach Robin Kumar. His progression from a first-year competitor to an Asian Para Games champion in six years underscores the commitment to training that officials and coaches have highlighted. Competing in seated throwing events requires athletes to generate power entirely from the upper body, making technical development a prolonged and demanding process.
India's Broader Surge at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Wednesday's gold from Ayush followed a record-breaking Tuesday for the Indian contingent. Deepthi Jeevanji successfully defended her 400m T20 title, while Nishad Kumar struck his second gold of the Games, clearing 2.04m in the High Jump T47 to set a new Games record — having also won the Long Jump T47 gold on Monday, making him a double champion at these Games. Simran equalled a Games record in the 200m T12.
In the Men's Discus Throw F43/F44/F62/F64, India swept all three medals. Devender Kumar won gold with a 49.71m effort and 781 Raza points, Rakesh secured silver with 49.35m and 771 points, and Pardeep Kumar took bronze with a 51.15m throw earning 669 points. Pranav Soorma also won gold in the discus throw. Preeti Pal added silver in the 200m T35, clocking 29.53 seconds behind China's Zhou Xia, who set a Games record of 28.03s. India also collected two bronze medals in men's shot put, with Praveen Sharma recording 13.86m in the F11 event and Hokato Hotozhe Sema finishing third in the F56/F57 category with 14.65m.
India's performance across track and field disciplines at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 points to a deepening of the country's para-athletics pipeline — one built steadily since the Tokyo cycle. The coming days will determine how high the final medal tally climbs.
Point of View
Backed by improved coaching infrastructure, are now competitive at the continental level within a single Olympic cycle. The more telling story at Aichi-Nagoya, however, is India's depth — a full podium sweep in discus throw and a double champion in Nishad Kumar signal that medals are no longer isolated peaks but part of a pattern. The question for the Indian Paralympic Committee is whether this momentum translates into a step-change at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, or whether resource allocation and selection processes will again constrain potential.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ayush Verma win at the 2026 Asian Para Games?
Ayush Verma won the gold medal in the Men's Shot Put F53 final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on 21 October 2026, with a best throw of 8.16m. It was his second medal at these Games, having earlier won bronze in the Javelin Throw F53/F54.
What is the F53 classification in para-athletics?
The F53 class is for athletes with limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power, or impaired range of movement. Athletes in this category compete in seated throwing events, which require significant upper-body strength, coordination, and technical consistency.
How did India perform overall at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games?
India had a strong run, with highlights including Nishad Kumar winning double gold in Long Jump and High Jump T47 (the latter with a Games record of 2.04m), a full podium sweep in Men's Discus Throw, Deepthi Jeevanji defending her 400m T20 title, and Simran equalling a Games record in 200m T12.
When did Ayush Verma start competing in para-athletics?
Ayush Verma began his competitive para-sports journey in 2020, taking up shot put under the guidance of coach Robin Kumar. His gold at the 2026 Asian Para Games comes six years after that debut.
Who else finished on the podium in Men's Shot Put F53 at Aichi-Nagoya 2026?
Iran's Alireza Hemami won silver with a throw of 8.09m, and Kazakhstan's Makhambet Serikkaliyev claimed bronze with 6.81m. Ayush Verma's gold-winning throw of 8.16m separated him from Hemami by just seven centimetres.
