Indian para-athletes Nishad Kumar and Ravi Budigina secure medals

Nishad Kumar delivered an outstanding performance to win gold in the men's T47 long jump at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya. Competing in his first international long jump event, the two-time Paralympic high jump silver medallist recorded a winning mark of 7.11 meters. Following a strong start of 6.95 meters, he took full control during the third round and later equaled his best jump in the fifth round to seal his victory. Ravi Karthik Budigina contributed to the country's rising tally by securing silver in the men's 100m freestyle S13 event. The 18-year-old visually impaired swimmer from Andhra Pradesh clocked 56.80 seconds, registering the first swimming medal for India at the current competition in Japan. Uzbekistan’s Egor Bolotov took the gold with a time of 52.90 seconds.

Transitioning into new disciplines

Kumar, who lost his right hand in a childhood farming accident, has consistently excelled on the global stage since taking up para-athletics in 2009. Winning the 2025 World Para Athletics high jump championship with an Asian record set high expectations, but his shift to the long jump proved highly successful and showcased his incredible versatility. Uzbekistan's Omadbek Khasanov finished second in the event with a season-best 6.99 meters, and Sri Lanka's Mohammadu Safran took bronze at 6.55 meters.

Also read: Indian Judoka Kokila clinches Silver medal in women's J2 judo at para games

Growing medal count in Nagoya

These recent victories raised the Indian medal total to six. Earlier events saw elite shooters Mona Agarwal and Avani Lekhara claim gold and silver, respectively, in the women's 10m air rifle standing SH1. Para-judo athletes Kokila and Kapil Parmar also added to the scoreboard with silver and bronze finishes in their respective weight categories. The ongoing events in Japan reflect growing investments in regional sports infrastructure, empowering young athletes to reach global podiums with confidence.