Asian Para Games 2026: Navdeep Singh, Rakeshbhai Bhatt win bronze in Javelin, 200m
Synopsis
Paris Paralympic gold medallist Navdeep Singh settled for bronze in Nagoya after Iran's Beit Sadegh outthrew him with 45.78m. The same day, debutant Rakeshbhai Bhatt from Gujarat held his nerve in the 200m T37 to claim bronze in 23.64 seconds — giving India a double podium and underlining the country's deepening para-athletics bench.
Key Takeaways
Navdeep Singh won bronze in Men's Javelin Throw F40/F41 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 23 October 2026 with a best throw of 42.55 metres .
Rakeshbhai Bhatt claimed bronze on his Para-Asian Games debut in the Men's 200m T37 , finishing in 23.64 seconds .
Iran's Beit Sadegh took gold with 45.78 metres ; Indonesia's Ansyari won silver with a personal best of 43.55 metres in the javelin.
Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli set an Asian Para Games record of 23.32 seconds in the 200m T37.
Navdeep is the 2024 Paris Paralympic gold medallist and also won silver at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships .
India's Paralympic gold medallist Navdeep Singh claimed the bronze medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F40/F41 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 23 October 2026, recording a best effort of 42.55 metres. Fellow para-athlete Rakeshbhai Bhatt also secured bronze in the Men's 200m T37, giving India a double podium finish on the day.
Navdeep Singh's Javelin Throw Final
Navdeep registered his best throw on his second attempt, with the remaining four attempts ruled as fouls. Iran's Beit Sadegh claimed gold with a throw of 45.78 metres, while Indonesia's Ansyari took silver with a personal best of 43.55 metres. The bronze adds to an already decorated career for the Panipat, Haryana-born athlete, who remains one of India's most consistent para-sport performers.
Navdeep's Road to Nagoya
Navdeep's rise has been steady and well-documented on the international circuit. He won gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games — the defining moment of his career — after finishing fourth at both the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics and the 2022 Asian Para Games (held in 2023). At the World Para Athletics Championships, he claimed silver in 2025 and bronze in 2024, finishing fourth at the 2023 edition. His earlier achievements include gold at the U20 World Para Athletics Championships in 2019, gold at the Desert Challenge Cup in the United States in 2022, gold at the Fazza Grand Prix in Dubai in 2021, and gold at the Indian Open in both 2023 and 2026.
Rakeshbhai Bhatt's Debut Bronze
Rakeshbhai Bhatt, competing in his first-ever Para-Asian Games, delivered a composed run in the Men's 200m T37, clocking 23.64 seconds to finish third. Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli stormed to gold in 23.32 seconds, setting a new Asian Para Games record, while Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo took silver in 23.45 seconds. Rakeshbhai, who hails from a village in Gujarat, reportedly began his para-sports journey with the ambition of becoming a competitive sprinter, and his debut podium marks a significant milestone in that pursuit.
India's Para-Sports Momentum
The double bronze in Nagoya reflects India's growing depth on the para-athletics circuit. This comes amid a broader surge in Indian para-sport investment following the country's record haul at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, where athletes like Navdeep helped raise the medal tally to historic levels. Notably, both medallists on Friday represent states — Haryana and Gujarat — that have emerged as consistent feeders of para-athletic talent. With the Games ongoing, India's athletics contingent will be looking to add to the tally in the remaining events.
Point of View
And the podium confirms his consistency even when not at his best; Iran's Sadegh simply threw farther on the day. More significant is Rakeshbhai Bhatt's debut bronze, which signals that India's para-athletics pipeline is no longer dependent on a handful of marquee names. The real story from Nagoya may be structural: with Haryana and Gujarat producing podium athletes in the same session, the question for Indian para-sport administrators is whether grassroots infrastructure and scouting are matching this emerging talent depth — or merely benefiting from it by accident.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medal did Navdeep Singh win at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Navdeep Singh won a bronze medal in the Men's Javelin Throw F40/F41 event at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 23 October 2026, recording a best throw of 42.55 metres. Iran's Beit Sadegh claimed gold with 45.78 metres.
Who is Navdeep Singh and what are his major achievements?
Navdeep Singh is an Indian para-athlete from Panipat, Haryana, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games in the Men's Javelin Throw F40/F41 event. He has also won silver at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and gold at competitions including the Fazza Grand Prix and Indian Open.
Who is Rakeshbhai Bhatt and how did he perform at the Asian Para Games?
Rakeshbhai Bhatt is a para-sprinter from Gujarat making his Para-Asian Games debut. He won bronze in the Men's 200m T37, clocking 23.64 seconds, finishing behind Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli (gold, 23.32 seconds, Asian Para Games record) and Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo (silver, 23.45 seconds).
Where are the 2026 Asian Para Games being held?
The Asian Para Games are being held in Nagoya, Japan. The events covered on 23 October 2026 included athletics, where India claimed two bronze medals on the same day.
How has India performed in para-athletics in recent years?
India has significantly strengthened its para-athletics standing, highlighted by a record medal haul at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Athletes from states like Haryana and Gujarat have been particularly prominent, with Navdeep Singh's Paris gold being among the most celebrated moments.
