India sweep Men's High Jump T63 podium at Nagoya Para Games
Synopsis
India pulled off their third podium clean sweep at the Nagoya Para Games in a single day — this time in the Men's High Jump T63, with Shailesh Kumar topping the podium at 1.89m. Combined with sweeps in discus throw and shot put, and a one-two in the 400m T47, India's para athletics programme is delivering its most dominant Games performance in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
Shailesh Kumar won gold in the Men's High Jump T63 with a clearance of 1.89 metres at the Nagoya Para Games on 22 October 2026 .
Varun Bhati took silver ( 1.84m ) and Rahul claimed bronze with a personal-best 1.81 metres .
This was India's third podium clean sweep at the current Games, replicating their 2022 sweep in the same event.
Devender Kumar and Sachin Khilari had earlier led the other two clean sweeps in discus throw F44/64 and shot put F46.
Anjanaben Bumbadiya won gold and Jayant Behera silver in the 400m T47 earlier on the same day.
India achieved a historic podium sweep in the Men's High Jump T63 Final at the Nagoya Para Games on 22 October 2026, claiming all three medals to underline the country's dominance in para athletics. Shailesh Kumar won gold, Varun Bhati took silver, and Rahul secured bronze in a commanding display.
How the medals were won
Shailesh Kumar led the charge with an outstanding clearance of 1.89 metres to clinch the gold. Varun Bhati followed with a 1.84-metre jump to claim silver, while Rahul completed the clean sweep with a personal-best effort of 1.81 metres to secure bronze.
India's third podium sweep at these Games
This remarkable result replicates India's podium sweep in the Men's High Jump T42/T63 at the 2022 Games, when the country similarly claimed all three medals. Notably, this was India's third podium clean sweep at the current Games. Devender Kumar had earlier led a sweep in the men's discus throw F44/64, and Sachin Khilari fronted another in the men's shot put F46 final.
Varun Bhati's decorated para athletics career
Varun Bhati, from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, is one of India's most accomplished para high jumpers. He first made his mark on the Paralympic stage at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, clearing 1.86 metres to win bronze in the men's high jump T42 event. He subsequently won bronze at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships and silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, clearing 1.82 metres. More recently, he earned bronze at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi with a clearance of 1.85 metres.
India also dominates 400m T47 with one-two finish
Earlier on the same day, India registered a dominant one-two finish in the 400m T47 event. Anjanaben Bumbadiya claimed gold in 59.97 seconds, while Jayant Behera secured silver in 1:00.65. The double podium further bolstered India's para athletics medal tally at the Games.
Point of View
Jumps, and track. The question the mainstream sports conversation rarely asks is whether this depth is being replicated at the grassroots, or whether it rests on a thin layer of elite athletes cycling through the same events across cycles. India's para sports infrastructure needs scrutiny alongside its medal count.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the Men's High Jump T63 at the Nagoya Para Games?
Shailesh Kumar won the gold medal in the Men's High Jump T63 at the Nagoya Para Games on 22 October 2026, clearing 1.89 metres. Varun Bhati took silver with 1.84 metres and Rahul claimed bronze with a personal-best 1.81 metres.
What is a podium sweep in para athletics?
A podium sweep occurs when athletes from a single country win all three medals — gold, silver, and bronze — in the same event. India achieved this feat three times at the current Nagoya Para Games.
Has India achieved this podium sweep in high jump before?
Yes. India replicated their 2022 podium sweep in the Men's High Jump T42/T63, once again claiming all three medals in the same event at the Nagoya Para Games.
Who is Varun Bhati and what is his medal history?
Varun Bhati is a para high jumper from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, who won bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, bronze at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, and bronze at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.
What other medals did India win at the Nagoya Para Games on 22 October?
Alongside the high jump sweep, India won gold and silver in the 400m T47 through Anjanaben Bumbadiya (59.97 seconds) and Jayant Behera (1:00.65). Devender Kumar and Sachin Khilari had also led sweeps in discus throw F44/64 and shot put F46 respectively.
