Asian Para Games 2026: Soorma sets Asian record for gold, Ram Ratan takes silver in discus F51/52/53
Synopsis
Pranav Soorma didn't just win gold at the Asian Para Games 2026 — he rewrote the record books. His 11.66-metre fourth-attempt throw in Nagoya set a new Asian record and, combined with Ram Ratan Singh's silver, handed India a historic one-two in the men's discus throw F51/52/53. For a defending champion who also holds a Paris Paralympics silver, Soorma is rapidly becoming the definitive name in Asian para-athletics.
Key Takeaways
Pranav Soorma won gold in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 20 October with an Asian record throw of 11.66 metres .
Ram Ratan Singh claimed silver with a best throw of 10.35 metres , completing a historic Indian one-two finish.
Soorma's record effort came on his fourth attempt , earning him 932 Raza points ; Ram Ratan accumulated 809 Raza points .
Soorma is the defending champion in the F51 club throw from the previous Para Asian Games and a 2024 Paris Paralympics silver medallist .
Iran's Alireza Hemami (F53) took bronze with a throw of 20.20 metres .
Swimmer Himanshu Nandal added a bronze in the men's 400m freestyle S11 , clocking 5 minutes 10.91 seconds .
India's Pranav Soorma and Ram Ratan Singh delivered a commanding one-two finish in the men's discus throw combined F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Tuesday, 20 October, with Soorma smashing an Asian record of 11.66 metres to claim gold. The double podium finish added a landmark chapter to India's para-athletics campaign at the Games.
Soorma's Record-Breaking Performance
Soorma opened his series with a throw of 10.79 metres, followed by a foul on his second attempt. He bounced back with 11.35 metres on his third throw before unleashing his record effort of 11.66 metres on the fourth attempt, which earned him 932 Raza points and secured the gold medal. He continued strongly, throwing 11.54 metres on his fifth attempt and closing with 10.59 metres on his sixth.
Ram Ratan's Silver and India's Double Podium
Ram Ratan Singh registered a foul on his opening attempt before taking an early lead with a best throw of 10.35 metres on his second attempt, accumulating 809 Raza points. He was unable to improve on that mark, recording fouls on his third and fourth attempts, and managed 10.02 metres and 10.13 metres on his fifth and sixth throws respectively. Soorma's fourth-attempt surge ultimately moved him ahead of his compatriot, completing a historic Indian one-two.
Soorma's Decorated Para-Athletics Career
This gold is not Soorma's first moment of glory on the Asian stage. He was the defending champion in the F51 club throw from the previous edition of the Para Asian Games. Notably, he also won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, underlining his standing as one of India's premier para-athletes. This Asian record further cements his dominance in the discipline.
Iran's Hemami Claims Bronze
Iran's Alireza Hemami, competing in the F53 category, finished third with a throw of 20.20 metres, taking the bronze medal in the combined event.
Nandal Adds Bronze in Swimming
Earlier on the same day, Indian swimmer Himanshu Nandal won bronze in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event, clocking 5 minutes 10.91 seconds to secure another podium finish for the country. India's medal tally at the Nagoya Games continued to grow across multiple disciplines on a productive Tuesday.
India's para-sport contingent will look to build on this momentum in the remaining days of competition at the Asian Para Games 2026.
Point of View
Not just participants. Yet the double podium in a combined classification event deserves scrutiny — the F51, F52, and F53 categories cover athletes with significantly different levels of functional ability, which is why Iran's bronze throw of 20.20 metres dwarfs India's gold of 11.66 metres. Medals in combined events reflect classification realities as much as athletic dominance. That context does not diminish Soorma's achievement, but it is worth noting as India benchmarks its para-sport progress. The real test will come when Soorma competes in a single-class format at the next World Para Athletics Championships.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What Asian record did Pranav Soorma set at the Asian Para Games 2026?
Pranav Soorma set an Asian record of 11.66 metres in the men's discus throw combined F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on 20 October. The throw, achieved on his fourth attempt, earned him 932 Raza points and the gold medal.
How did Ram Ratan Singh perform in the Asian Para Games 2026 discus throw?
Ram Ratan Singh won the silver medal with a best throw of 10.35 metres, accumulating 809 Raza points. His best effort came on his second attempt, and he was unable to improve on that mark in the remaining rounds.
What is Pranav Soorma's previous international record at para-athletics events?
Soorma is the defending gold medallist in the F51 club throw from the previous edition of the Para Asian Games. He also won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, establishing him as one of India's top para-athletes.
Who won the bronze medal in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 at Asian Para Games 2026?
Iran's Alireza Hemami, competing in the F53 category, won bronze with a throw of 20.20 metres at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya.
Which other Indian athlete won a medal at the Asian Para Games 2026 on 20 October?
Swimmer Himanshu Nandal won a bronze medal in the men's 400m freestyle S11 event, clocking 5 minutes 10.91 seconds, adding to India's tally on the same day as Soorma and Ram Ratan's podium finishes.
