Asian Para Games: Haney, Sandeep smash world records to claim gold in Nagoya
Synopsis
On the same day, in the same stadium, two Indian para-athletes shattered world records. Haney's 60.49m javelin throw and Sandeep's 52.28-second 400m run at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya weren't just gold medals — they were declarations of intent. India's para-athletics programme is no longer emerging; it has arrived.
Key Takeaways
Haney won gold in men's javelin throw F37/38 with a world record throw of 60.49m , scoring 1,116 Raza points , at the Asian Para Games, Nagoya on 23 October 2026 .
Debutant Sandeep set a world record of 52.28 seconds to win gold in the men's 400m T64 ; India's Ajay Kumar also claimed bronze in the same event.
Nimisha Chakkungalparambil Suresh won silver in women's long jump T47 with a best jump of 5.37 metres .
Haney previously won gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games (held in 2023) and has lived with spasticity and weakness on the left side of his body since childhood.
Sandeep, who began para-athletics in 2020 , also holds bronze from the World Para Athletics Championships, New Delhi 2025 , and gold from the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 .
India's Haney and Sandeep delivered stunning world-record performances to win gold medals in the men's javelin throw F37/38 and men's 400m T64 events, respectively, at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 23 October 2026. The twin gold medals underscored India's growing dominance in para athletics on the Asian stage.
Haney's Golden Throw
Haney clinched gold in the men's javelin throw F37/38 with a massive throw of 60.49 metres, setting a new world record in the T37 category and accumulating 1,116 Raza points. Iran's Hormoz Seidikazpounji took silver with a personal best of 50.68m (1,009 points), while China's Yu Chengjie claimed bronze with an Asian record of 53.66m (943 points).
Haney, who has lived with spasticity and weakness on the left side of his body since childhood, is no stranger to the Asian Para Games podium. He had previously won gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games (held in 2023), where he also set an Asian record in the javelin throw. His latest world record marks a significant leap beyond that earlier benchmark.
Debutant Sandeep Makes History in 400m
Debutant Sandeep produced a remarkable run to clinch gold in the men's 400m T64 with a timing of 52.28 seconds, setting a new world record in the T44 category. Saudi Arabia's Nour Alsana won silver with the season's best timing of 53.13 seconds, while India's Ajay Kumar secured bronze with a timing of 53.61 seconds — giving India a memorable one-three finish in the event.
Sandeep began his para-athletics journey in 2020 and earned his first medal at the Para National Games in Bengaluru in 2021. He went on to win bronze in the 200m T44 at the World Para Athletics Championships, New Delhi 2025, and gold in the 100m T44 at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026. His world record at Nagoya marks the most significant achievement of his brief but rapidly ascending career.
Nimisha Takes Silver in Women's Long Jump
Nimisha Chakkungalparambil Suresh added to India's medal tally with a silver in the women's long jump T47, recording a best jump of 5.37 metres for 818 Raza points. Nimisha made her international mark at the Fazza World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai in February 2021, winning gold with a jump of 5.25 metres. She also competed at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris and famously won gold at the fourth Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in October 2023 — making her silver in Nagoya a relative step back, even as it adds to India's impressive haul.
India's Rising Force in Para Athletics
This comes amid a broader surge in India's para-sports programme, with athletes increasingly competing — and winning — at the highest global levels. The back-to-back world records by Haney and Sandeep on the same day signal a depth of talent that extends well beyond a single generation of champions. With the next World Para Athletics Championships on the horizon, India's performance at Nagoya will serve as a strong indicator of what lies ahead.
Point of View
Once reliant on a handful of marquee names, is now producing debutants who break global benchmarks on their first major outing. What the Nagoya haul signals is not just individual brilliance but a maturing support ecosystem of coaching, classification expertise, and competitive exposure. The challenge now is continuity: world records set at continental games must translate into podium finishes at World Championships and Paralympics, where competition is sharper and conditions less predictable. If India's para-sports administrators can sustain the momentum — not just celebrate it — Nagoya could mark the beginning of a golden era, not just a golden day.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What world records did India's athletes set at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya?
India's Haney set a world record of 60.49 metres in the men's javelin throw T37 category, while debutant Sandeep set a world record of 52.28 seconds in the men's 400m T44 category, both on 23 October 2026 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya.
Who is Haney and why is his gold medal significant?
Haney is an Indian para-athlete who has lived with spasticity and weakness on the left side of his body since childhood. His 60.49m world record throw in Nagoya is his second Asian Para Games gold, having previously won at the 2022 edition (held in 2023), and represents a significant improvement over his earlier Asian record.
Who is Sandeep and what is his athletic background?
Sandeep is a debutant at the Asian Para Games who began his para-athletics career in 2020. He won his first medal at the Para National Games in Bengaluru in 2021, bronze in the 200m T44 at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi in 2025, and gold at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026. His world record 400m run in Nagoya is the standout achievement of his career so far.
What did Nimisha Chakkungalparambil Suresh win at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya?
Nimisha won a silver medal in the women's long jump T47 event with a best jump of 5.37 metres, scoring 818 Raza points. She had previously won gold in the same event at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, held in October 2023.
How did India perform overall in para athletics at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India had a strong showing in para athletics on 23 October 2026, winning two gold medals via world record performances by Haney and Sandeep, a bronze by Ajay Kumar in the men's 400m T64, and a silver by Nimisha in the women's long jump T47, reflecting a growing depth in India's para-sports programme.
