States » NorthPosted at: Oct 24 2026 6:39PM


Haryana para athletes strike gold with 31 medals at Asian Para Games, rewrite sporting history

Panchkula, Oct 24 (UNI) Haryana’s para-athletes have delivered a historic performance at the Asian Para Games in Japan, winning an impressive 31 medals, including nine gold, and emerging as a major force in India’s record-breaking campaign.
Their outstanding showing contributed significantly to India’s overall tally of 114 medals, comprising 30 gold, as the country finished fourth in the medal standings and recorded its best-ever performance in the history of the continental competition.
Hailing the achievement, Aarti Singh Rao, president of the Para Sports Association of Haryana, congratulated the medal winners, their coaches, support staff, families and sports officials, crediting their collective commitment and relentless hard work for the remarkable success.
The Haryana contingent’s nine gold medals came through Sumit Antil, Honey, Pranav Soorma, Harvinder Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Nitesh Kumar, Dharambir, Sumit and Rinku across javelin throw, club throw, archery, athletics and badminton.
The medal-winning performances were particularly memorable, with two Haryana athletes reportedly setting world records to underline the state’s growing dominance in para-sports.
Rohtak’s Honey produced a stunning throw of 60.49 metres in the F37 javelin throw category to set a new world record, while Hisar’s Sandeep Kumar clocked 52.28 seconds in the T44 400-metre race to claim gold and break the world record.
Their achievements added a special dimension to Haryana’s impressive medal haul.
Rao said Haryana’s para-athletes had consistently demonstrated excellence at national and international competitions. She noted that the achievement reflected the athletes’ determination, the dedication of their coaches, the unwavering support of their families and the sustained efforts of sports organisations working to nurture talent.
She also appreciated the role of the Paralympic Committee of India in promoting para-sports and creating opportunities for athletes to sharpen their skills and represent the country at major international events.
According to Rao, the performances demonstrated that physical challenges cannot stand in the way of sporting excellence when backed by determination, discipline and hard work.
Haryana’s medal winners also made their presence felt across several other disciplines.
Bhawna and Pooja won silver medals in archery, while Pramod secured silver in the 1,500-metre race. Nitesh Kumar, Kokila, Manish Narwal and Ashok Malik also figured among the silver medallists, alongside Manjeet and Kapil Kumar.
The state’s bronze-medal tally included performances by Navdeep in javelin throw, Himanshu in swimming, Dharambir in club throw and Ajay Kumar in the 400-metre race. Pradeep, Sukhchain, Karamjot, Honey, Rohit, Sandeep, Praveen and Rahul also contributed bronze medals in their respective events.
India’s 114-medal haul surpassed its previous tally of 111 medals at the 2022 edition, marking a new benchmark for the country at the Asian Para Games.
Haryana’s nine gold medals accounted for nearly 30 per cent of India’s total gold-medal count, highlighting the state’s substantial contribution to the national campaign.
Rao wished all the medal winners continued success and expressed confidence that Haryana’s para-athletes would continue to bring laurels to the country in future international competitions.
Their performance, she said, would inspire a new generation of athletes to pursue sporting excellence with courage, discipline and determination.
UNI KK RN
Tags: #Haryana para athletes strike gold with 31 medals at Asian Para Games# rewrite sporting history
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