Asian Para Games 2026: Rakshita Raju disqualified, Ravanni Valasanani takes bronze in Women's 1500m T11
Synopsis
India's Rakshita Raju had the bronze within her grasp in the Women's 1500m T11 at Nagoya, only to lose it to a TR6.9 kit violation — handing the medal to fellow Indian Ravanni Valasanani. The bittersweet twist came on a day India also swept gold and silver in the T12/T13 1500m, pushing the country's para-athletics medal count to six.
Key Takeaways
Rakshita Raju was disqualified from the Women's 1500m T11 bronze at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya due to TR6.9 (non-compliance on clothing, shoes, and bibs).
Ravanni Valasanani (guided by Rahul Balakrishna ) was promoted from fourth to bronze, having clocked 5:41.85s .
China's He Shanshan won gold ( 4:41.19s ) and Huang Zengli took silver ( 4:55.54s ) in the same event.
Soumya and Radha Venkatesh won gold and silver respectively in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 , with 621 and 421 Raza points .
Rinku (gold, 65.11m ), Ajeet Singh (silver, 65.02m ), and Nishad Kumar (gold, 7.11m long jump) pushed India's para-athletics medal count to six .
India's Rakshita Raju was disqualified from her bronze medal-winning position in the Women's 1500m T11 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Monday, 19 October, due to TR6.9 — a rule violation related to non-compliance in clothing, shoes, and bibs. As a result, fellow Indian Ravanni Valasanani was promoted from fourth to third place, claiming the bronze medal.
How the Disqualification Unfolded
Rakshita (guided by Tabres Khan) had initially finished third in the race with a time of 5:31.45s, while Ravanni (guided by Rahul Balakrishna) crossed the line fourth, clocking 5:41.85s. Following a review, Rakshita was found to be in violation of TR6.9, a technical rule governing athlete presentation standards — specifically covering clothing, shoes, and bib requirements. The disqualification elevated Ravanni to the podium.
China Dominates the T11 Final
China swept the top two positions in the event. He Shanshan (guided by Zheng Canran) won the gold medal with a dominant time of 4:41.19s, more than 50 seconds ahead of the field. Her compatriot Huang Zengli (guided by You Junjie) took the silver with a time of 4:55.54s.
India's Golden Double in Women's 1500m T12/T13
Earlier on the same day, India produced a commanding performance in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 final. Soumya (guided by Bharath Kumar) clinched the gold medal with a time of 5:12.39s, accumulating 621 Raza points, while Radha Venkatesh (guided by Govind Solanki) won the silver with a time of 5:30.90s and 421 Raza points. Japan's Mana Sasaki (T13) took the bronze, clocking 5:12.15s but accumulating only 336 Raza points.
The Raza point system is a mathematical framework used to compare and rank athletes from different disability classifications on an equitable basis, allowing fair competition across categories within the same race.
India's Medal Tally in Para-Athletics Grows
India's para-athletics contingent now has six medals at the Nagoya Games. Rinku claimed gold in the Men's Javelin F46 with an impressive throw of 65.11 metres, while Ajeet Singh secured the silver with a throw of 65.02 metres — just 9 centimetres behind his compatriot. Nishad Kumar also added a gold on debut in the long jump event, registering a best effort of 7.11m.
With athletics continuing to drive India's medal push, the contingent will be hoping for further podium finishes in the remaining days of the Asian Para Games 2026.
Point of View
And a violation at this level suggests a gap in pre-race athlete management protocols. That said, the day's broader picture is strongly positive — India's six-medal haul in para-athletics at Nagoya reflects genuine depth across field events and distance running. The concern worth flagging: the Raza points system, while equitable in design, remains poorly understood by Indian audiences, and better communication around it would help the general public appreciate the scale of Soumya's and Radha's achievement.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rakshita Raju disqualified at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Rakshita Raju was disqualified due to a violation of TR6.9 , a technical rule governing non-compliance in clothing, shoes, and bibs. She had initially finished third in the Women's 1500m T11 in Nagoya with a time of 5:31.45s before the disqualification was applied.
Who is Ravanni Valasanani and how did she win the bronze?
Ravanni Valasanani is an Indian para-athlete who finished fourth in the Women's 1500m T11 at the Asian Para Games 2026, clocking 5:41.85s. She was promoted to the bronze medal position after Rakshita Raju was disqualified for a kit compliance violation.
What is the TR6.9 rule in para-athletics?
TR6.9 is a technical regulation in para-athletics that requires athletes to comply with prescribed standards for clothing, shoes, and competition bibs. Non-compliance with this rule can result in disqualification from an event, regardless of finish position.
What is the Raza point system used in the Women's 1500m T12/T13?
The Raza point system is a mathematical framework that allows fair comparison and ranking of athletes across different disability classifications competing in the same race. It helped rank Soumya (621 points) above Japan's Mana Sasaki (336 points) despite Sasaki clocking a faster time of 5:12.15s versus Soumya's 5:12.39s.
How many medals has India won in para-athletics at the Asian Para Games 2026?
India has won six medals in para-athletics at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya. These include golds from Rinku (Men's Javelin F46, 65.11m), Soumya (Women's 1500m T12/T13), and Nishad Kumar (long jump, 7.11m), silvers from Ajeet Singh (65.02m) and Radha Venkatesh, and a bronze for Ravanni Valasanani.
