Indian Open Para Athletics 2026: Nishad Kumar, Rakshitha Raju headline opening day in Bengaluru
Synopsis
Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Nishad Kumar cleared 7.34m to take gold in the Men's Long Jump T47, while Karnataka's Rakshitha Raju dominated the Women's 1500m T11 — two of several compelling performances on the opening day of the 8th Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships 2026 in Bengaluru.
Key Takeaways
Nishad Kumar (Himachal Pradesh) won Men's Long Jump T47 gold with a leap of 7.34m on 26 May 2026 in Bengaluru .
Rakshitha Raju (Karnataka) claimed Women's 1500m T11 gold in 5:17.54 .
Chaitanya Pathak (Maharashtra) won Men's 100m T12 gold in 11.39 seconds .
Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath (Kerala) clocked 10.63 seconds to win Men's 100m T47 gold.
The Men's Discus Throw F64 was decided by just 3 centimetres — Pardeep Kumar's 50.47m edging Devender Kumar's 50.44m .
The championships run through 28 May 2026 , featuring athletes from India and several other countries.
The 8th Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships 2026 got off to a spectacular start in Bengaluru on Tuesday, 26 May, with para athletes from India and abroad delivering standout performances across track and field disciplines. Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Nishad Kumar and Karnataka's Rakshitha Raju were among the headline acts on a packed opening day.
Nishad Kumar Leads the Field
Nishad Kumar, representing Himachal Pradesh, produced the day's most celebrated moment in the Men's Long Jump T47 event, clearing 7.34m to claim gold. Rajasthan's Arjun Singh finished second with a leap of 6.81m, while Sri Lanka's Safran Mohammadu earned bronze after clearing 6.72m. For Kumar, the performance underlines his continued dominance in the category ahead of the international para athletics season.
Sprint Highlights Across Categories
In the Men's 100m T12, Maharashtra's Chaitanya Pathak clinched gold in 11.39 seconds, edging Haryana's Vishu Vishu (silver, 11.42s) and Andhra Pradesh's Gowtham Karanam (bronze, 11.75s) in a tightly fought contest.
The Men's 100m T47 saw Kerala's Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath take gold in an impressive 10.63 seconds, with Maharashtra's Dilip Gavit just a hundredth of a second behind at 10.64s for silver. Karnataka's Babu Janu Pandaramise claimed bronze in 11.19s.
Punjab's Vivek Sharma won the Men's 100m T63 in 12.92 seconds, ahead of Haryana's Arpit (silver, 13.00s) and Uttar Pradesh's Sandeep Kumar (bronze, 13.40s).
Field Events: Razor-Thin Margins
The Men's Discus Throw F64 produced one of the closest contests of the day. Pardeep Kumar of S.S.C.B. won gold with a best throw of 50.47m, narrowly ahead of Haryana's Devender Kumar who threw 50.44m for silver — a margin of just 3 centimetres. S.S.C.B.'s Rakesh secured bronze with 49.67m.
In the Women's Shot Put F57, Haryana's Sharmila took gold with a throw of 9.86m. Karnataka's Kanchugarakoppa Shyla Shilpa bagged silver at 6.67m and Haryana's Poonam Sharma claimed bronze at 6.46m.
Rakshitha Raju Dominates Women's 1500m
Karnataka's Rakshitha Raju controlled the Women's 1500m T11 from start to finish, winning gold in 5:17.54. Rajasthan's Shalini Chaudhary took silver in 6:07.55, while Kyrgyzstan's Gulnaz Zhuzbaeva claimed bronze in 6:19.58 — one of several international podium finishes on the day.
What's Next
The championships continue through 28 May, with leading para athletes from India and multiple countries competing across further track, field, and multi-event disciplines. With the international para athletics calendar heating up, performances at this meet are expected to carry selection and ranking implications for several competitors.
Point of View
But the real story is the competitive depth on show — a 3-centimetre margin in the discus throw and a sub-11-second T47 sprint signal that domestic competition is tightening. With the international para athletics season underway, Indian selectors will be watching closely: performances here carry real ranking weight, and the presence of overseas athletes from Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan adds credibility to the results.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Men's Long Jump T47 at the Indian Open Para Athletics 2026?
Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Nishad Kumar, representing Himachal Pradesh, won the Men's Long Jump T47 gold with a leap of 7.34m on 26 May 2026 in Bengaluru. Rajasthan's Arjun Singh took silver with 6.81m and Sri Lanka's Safran Mohammadu claimed bronze with 6.72m.
What is the Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships 2026?
It is the 8th edition of the Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships, held in Bengaluru from 26 to 28 May 2026. The meet features para athletes from India and several other countries competing across track and field disciplines.
Who is Rakshitha Raju and what did she win?
Rakshitha Raju is a Karnataka para athlete who won the Women's 1500m T11 gold on the opening day, finishing in a time of 5:17.54. Rajasthan's Shalini Chaudhary took silver and Kyrgyzstan's Gulnaz Zhuzbaeva earned bronze.
Which sprint events were held on Day 1 and who won them?
Three Men's 100m sprint categories were contested on Day 1. Chaitanya Pathak (Maharashtra) won the T12 in 11.39s, Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath (Kerala) won the T47 in 10.63s, and Vivek Sharma (Punjab) won the T63 in 12.92s.
When does the Indian Open Para Athletics Championships 2026 conclude?
The championships continue through 28 May 2026 in Bengaluru, with athletes from India and multiple countries competing across further track, field, and multi-event disciplines.
