Aichi-Nagoya, Oct 22 : India strengthened its campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026 with another outstanding performance in para-athletics, as Sachin Sarjerao Khilari won gold in the men’s F46 shot put and led an Indian sweep of all three medals in the event.
Khilari secured the title with a Games-record throw of 15.87 metres on his sixth and final attempt, surpassing the previous record of 15.67 metres. Mohd Yasser claimed silver with a season-best effort of 15.06 metres, while Parveen completed the podium with a throw of 14.94 metres.
The result highlighted India’s strength in para-field events and added another major achievement to Khilari’s international career. The Maharashtra athlete successfully defended the title he had won at the previous edition of the continental competition, demonstrating consistency at the highest level.
The final attempt proved decisive for Khilari, who saved his best performance for the closing stage of the competition. His 15.87-metre effort not only secured the gold medal but also established a new Games benchmark in the F46 category.
Yasser’s performance was equally important to India’s overall success. His 15.06-metre throw earned him second place, while Parveen’s 14.94 metres ensured that all three medals went to Indian athletes.
The sweep represented a significant achievement for the contingent, as the national flag occupied all three positions on the podium. It also underlined the depth of India’s talent in an event that requires a combination of technical precision, balance, strength and timing.
Khilari’s latest victory follows his silver-medal performance in the men’s shot put F46 event at the Paris Paralympics in 2024. His continued success at major competitions has established him among India’s leading para-athletes.
His journey to international recognition involved a change in sporting direction. Initially trained in discus and javelin, Khilari demonstrated potential in throwing events before moving towards shot put following a shoulder injury.
The injury created uncertainty about his future in athletics, but guidance from his coaches encouraged him to continue competing in a different discipline. The subsequent transition proved successful, eventually taking him to the podium at major international championships.
Khilari’s career illustrates the importance of adaptability in competitive sport. Athletes often have to adjust their techniques and training methods in response to physical limitations, changing conditions and the demands of different events.
The F46 classification is intended for field athletes with certain upper-limb impairments, including an amputation above or below the elbow on one arm or an equivalent impairment. Athletes compete from a standing position, relying on coordinated movement and the transfer of power through the body to generate distance.
In shot put, success depends on more than raw strength. Athletes must maintain balance, establish an effective throwing position and release the shot at the right angle while controlling their movement within the throwing circle.
Khilari’s final effort demonstrated the importance of maintaining concentration throughout the competition. A strong performance on the last attempt can change the medal standings, particularly when leading athletes are separated by relatively small distances.
India’s success extended beyond the F46 event, with the para-athletics contingent producing several other notable results during the Games. Praveen Kumar won gold in the men’s high jump T64 category, clearing 2.05 metres to establish a Games record. Teammate Banti took silver after clearing 1.92 metres, his personal best.
Praveen’s victory was another example of India’s ability to produce strong results across different para-sport disciplines. His performance also added to the country’s gold-medal tally as the competition progressed.
Ayush Verma secured gold in the men’s F53 shot put with a throw of 8.16 metres. Iran’s Alireza Hemami finished second with 8.09 metres, while Kazakhstan’s Makhambet Serikkaliyev took bronze with 6.81 metres.
Verma’s victory further strengthened India’s showing in throwing events, where athletes competed across classifications designed to reflect differences in functional ability. The results demonstrated the breadth of the country’s participation in para-athletics.
Indian archers also contributed to the medal count. The teenage pair of Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won silver in the women’s compound doubles final after losing to China’s Xu Xueqing and Zhao Jing, who prevailed 150-141.
The Indian pair had reached the final through a strong run in the competition, but the Chinese archers produced a more accurate performance in the title match. The silver nevertheless represented a valuable result for the Indian team.
Sheetal, who was born without arms, has emerged as one of the country’s prominent para-archers. Nag, who has multiple limb impairments, also continued to gain experience at international level. Their partnership brought attention to the growing presence of Indian athletes in compound para-archery.
India also collected medals in track events. Anubhav Choudhary secured bronze in the men’s 100 metres T35 with a personal-best time of 12.72 seconds. Rakeshbhai Bhatt added another bronze in the men’s 100 metres T37.
These results reflected the contribution of athletes across sprinting, field events and archery, giving India a broad representation among the medal winners.
According to the figures reported on October 22, India’s overall medal tally had risen to 62, comprising 14 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze medals. The contingent stood fifth in the overall standings after three days of medal events, having added 27 medals on Wednesday alone.
The tally reflected the cumulative contribution of athletes competing across multiple events and classifications. While individual gold medals attracted attention, the number of silver and bronze finishes also demonstrated the depth of India’s challenge at the continental competition.
The Asian Para Games provide athletes with an opportunity to compete against leading performers from across the region and measure their progress ahead of future international championships. For established athletes such as Khilari, the competition offers a chance to defend titles and improve records. For younger competitors, it provides valuable experience at a major multi-sport event.
India’s clean sweep in the men’s F46 shot put was particularly notable because it combined a record-breaking performance with a complete national podium. The result was not dependent on a single athlete alone; Yasser and Parveen also delivered distances sufficient to secure the remaining medals.
Khilari’s victory further reinforced the importance of sustained training and technical development in para-athletics. His transition from other throwing disciplines to shot put, followed by success at the Paralympics and Asian Para Games, illustrates how athletes can build long-term careers through adaptation and persistence.
As the competition continues in Aichi-Nagoya, India will look to maintain its momentum across athletics, archery and other para-sports. The contingent’s performances have provided several reasons for encouragement, with medals emerging from both established disciplines and events in which Indian athletes continue to expand their presence.
Khilari’s Games-record effort will stand as one of the defining performances of India’s campaign, while the all-Indian podium underlined the country’s strength in the F46 shot put category.