Asian Para Games: Soumya wins gold, Radha silver, Rakshita bronze in Nagoya
Synopsis
Three Indian para-athletes stood on the podium at Nagoya on Monday — Soumya took gold and Radha Venkatesh silver in the Women's 1500m T12/T13, while Rakshita Raju clinched bronze in the T11 event. Radha's silver adds to a haul that includes a 2023 Asian Para Games gold, underlining Karnataka's growing dominance in Indian para-athletics.
Key Takeaways
Soumya (guide: Bharath Kumar ) won gold in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 with a time of 5:12.39s and 621 Raza points at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya .
Radha Venkatesh (guide: Govind Solanki ) claimed silver in the same event, finishing in 5:30.90s for 421 Raza points .
Rakshita Raju (guide: Tabres Khan ) won bronze in the Women's 1500m T11 with a time of 5:31.45s .
Fellow Indian Ravanni Valasanaini finished fourth in the T11 race at 5:41.85s , just off the podium.
Radha Venkatesh is a two-time Asian Para Games medallist, having won gold in 2023 and silver and bronze in 2018 .
Both Soumya and Radha are Karnataka-based athletes, reflecting the state's strong para-athletics pipeline.
India's para-athletics contingent delivered a strong showing at the Asian Para Games on Monday, 19 October, with Soumya, Radha Venkatesh, and Rakshita Raju all claiming medals at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, pushing the country's overall tally higher.
Gold and Silver in Women's 1500m T12/T13
In the Women's 1500m T12/T13 final, Soumya (running with guide Bharath Kumar) claimed gold with a time of 5:12.39 seconds, accumulating 621 Raza points. Her Karnataka compatriot Radha Venkatesh (with guide Govind Solanki) earned silver, finishing in 5:30.90 seconds for 421 Raza points. Japan's Mana Sasaki (T13) took the bronze despite clocking a faster raw time of 5:12.15 seconds — she accumulated only 336 Raza points, illustrating how the classification-based scoring system levels the playing field across disability categories.
The Raza point system is a mathematical framework designed to equitably rank athletes with different physical impairments, allowing direct comparison across disability classifications in a single race.
Rakshita Raju Claims Bronze in Women's 1500m T11
In the Women's 1500m T11 final, Rakshita Raju (with guide Tabres Khan) won bronze after finishing third in 5:31.45 seconds. China dominated the podium's top two spots: He Shanshan (guided by Zheng Canran) took gold in 4:41.19 seconds, and compatriot Huang Zengli (guided by You Junjie) claimed silver in 4:55.54 seconds. Another Indian in the field, Ravanni Valasanaini (with guide Rahul Balakrishna), finished fourth at 5:41.85 seconds, narrowly missing the podium.
Soumya's Rising Profile
Soumya, a Karnataka-based T12 athlete, has been in outstanding form leading into Nagoya. She previously won gold at the Asian Youth Para Games 2025, the New Delhi Grand Prix 2026, and the Indian Open 2026. Monday's gold adds an Asian Para Games title to a rapidly growing honours list.
Radha Venkatesh's Decorated Record
Radha Venkatesh is no stranger to the Asian Para Games podium. She won gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games and claimed a silver and a bronze at the 2018 edition. Her international résumé also includes gold and silver at the Sharjah Open 2023, a bronze at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, gold medals at the 4th and 5th Indian Opens, and two silvers at the 7th and 8th Indian Opens, cementing her status as one of India's most consistent para-athletics performers.
With medals still to be decided across multiple disciplines, India's momentum at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya shows no sign of slowing.
Point of View
2023, 2026) is the kind of longevity that elite mainstream athletes would envy, yet she remains largely invisible outside specialist coverage. The Raza point system outcome — where a faster raw time still yielded bronze — is worth explaining to a broader audience, because it exposes how classification-blind metrics misrepresent Paralympic performance. India's pipeline is real; the broadcast and sponsorship ecosystem around it is not yet commensurate.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What medals did India win in para-athletics at the Asian Para Games on 19 October 2026?
India won three medals in para-athletics at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on 19 October 2026. Soumya took gold and Radha Venkatesh claimed silver in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 final, while Rakshita Raju won bronze in the Women's 1500m T11 final.
What is the Raza point system used at the Asian Para Games?
The Raza point system is a mathematical framework that converts finishing times into comparable scores across different disability classifications, allowing athletes with varying impairments to compete in the same race on a level playing field. It explains why Japan's Mana Sasaki won bronze in the T12/T13 race despite clocking a faster raw time than Radha Venkatesh — she accumulated fewer Raza points.
Who is Radha Venkatesh and what is her para-athletics record?
Radha Venkatesh is a Karnataka-based T12 para-athlete with an extensive international record. She won gold at the 2023 Asian Para Games, silver and bronze at the 2018 Asian Para Games, gold and silver at the Sharjah Open 2023, a bronze at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, and multiple medals at the Indian Open series.
Who is Soumya and what are her major achievements before Nagoya?
Soumya is a Karnataka-based T12 para-athlete who has been on a strong run leading into the Asian Para Games. Before Nagoya, she won gold at the Asian Youth Para Games 2025, the New Delhi Grand Prix 2026, and the Indian Open 2026.
Where are the Asian Para Games 2026 being held?
The Asian Para Games are being held in Nagoya, Japan, with para-athletics events taking place at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
