Asian Para Games 2026: Pradeep, Ayush claim silver and bronze in javelin throw
Synopsis
India's javelin duo Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma delivered a double podium in Nagoya on Tuesday, with Pradeep recording a 27.45m personal best for silver and Ayush converting Raza points into bronze. Combined with Praveen Sharma's Shot Put bronze, India's Asian Para Games 2026 tally stands at 22 medals — four of five golds from para athletics.
Key Takeaways
Pradeep Kumar won silver in Men's Javelin Throw F54 with a personal best of 27.45m at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya .
Ayush Verma claimed bronze in F53 with a personal best of 17.88m , securing his position via the Raza Point System .
This is Pradeep's second consecutive Asian Para Games silver in Men's Javelin F54, having also won silver at Hangzhou 2022 .
Praveen Sharma added bronze in Men's Shot Put F11 with a personal best of 13.86m .
India's overall tally stands at 22 medals — 5 gold, 8 silver, 9 bronze — with 4 of 5 golds coming from para athletics.
Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma delivered a memorable double podium for India in the Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Tuesday, 20 October, with Pradeep claiming silver and Ayush securing bronze. The twin finish extended India's strong run in para athletics at this edition of the Games.
How the medals were won
Pradeep Kumar, competing in the F54 category, produced a personal best of 27.45m on his final attempt to claim silver. Ayush Verma, in the F53 category, recorded a personal best of 17.88m on his fifth throw to secure bronze — accumulating enough Raza points to hold his position on the podium despite the difference in raw distance between the two categories.
Understanding the Raza Point System
The Raza Point System is a mathematical scoring framework used in para athletics to fairly rank athletes from different disability classification categories when they compete within a merged event. A throw distance, jump, or run time is entered into the system and converted into standardised points; the athlete with the highest total wins. This allows a fair comparison across classifications such as F53 and F54, which represent athletes with different degrees and types of physical impairment.
Pradeep's record at the Asian Para Games
Tuesday's silver is Pradeep Kumar's second consecutive Asian Para Games silver in the Men's Javelin F54. He had previously won silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. Earlier in 2026, he also claimed gold at the National Para Athletics Championships, underlining his consistency at the highest level.
Praveen Sharma adds bronze in Shot Put
In another podium moment for India, Praveen Sharma won bronze in the Men's Shot Put F11, registering a personal best of 13.86m on his final throw. He had recorded 13.60m in his fourth attempt before improving his mark in the final round to secure a place on the podium. The F11 classification is designated for athletes with visual impairments.
India's medal tally and momentum
These medals follow a dominant showing on Monday, when Rinku won gold in the Men's Javelin Throw F46 with Ajeet Singh taking silver — a one-two finish for India — and Soumya clinched the Women's 1500m T12/T13 title, with Radha Venkatesh finishing second. India's overall medal count at the Asian Para Games 2026 has reached 22 medals: 5 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze. Notably, four of the five gold medals have come from para athletics, affirming the discipline's status as India's strongest suit at these Games. With competition still ongoing, the contingent will be aiming to push the tally further.
Point of View
Reflecting years of targeted investment in classification-specific coaching. What the Raza Point System moment with Ayush Verma also illustrates is how India is now producing athletes competitive enough to navigate the technical complexity of merged-category events, not just clear physical benchmarks. The broader question is whether this momentum translates into infrastructure and scholarship continuity post-Games, or whether these athletes return to familiar gaps in institutional support. Pradeep Kumar's back-to-back silvers over two Asian Para Games editions are a case study in sustained performance that deserves more mainstream visibility than it typically receives.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medals did India win in javelin throw at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India won silver and bronze in the Men's Javelin Throw F53/54 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya. Pradeep Kumar took silver with a personal best of 27.45m and Ayush Verma claimed bronze with a personal best of 17.88m.
What is the Raza Point System in para athletics?
The Raza Point System is a mathematical scoring method that converts an athlete's throw, jump, or run time into standardised points, enabling fair comparison across different disability classifications in a merged event. The athlete with the highest total Raza points wins, regardless of raw distance or time differences between categories.
How many medals has India won at the Asian Para Games 2026 so far?
India has won 22 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 as of 20 October — 5 gold, 8 silver, and 9 bronze. Four of the five gold medals have come from para athletics.
What is the F53 and F54 classification in para athletics?
F53 and F54 are classification categories for athletes with physical impairments who compete in seated field events such as javelin throw. The classifications denote different degrees of functional ability, with F54 athletes generally having greater trunk function than F53 athletes.
Has Pradeep Kumar won at the Asian Para Games before?
Yes. Tuesday's silver in Nagoya is Pradeep Kumar's second consecutive Asian Para Games silver in Men's Javelin F54. He previously won silver at the 2022 Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China, and also claimed gold at the National Para Athletics Championships in 2026.
