IndiaPosted at: Nov 5 2026 6:09PM


Wounded in battle, unbowed in spirit: Army para-athletes script stories of triumph

Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) A mine blast in Jammu and Kashmir cost him a leg, but not his dream of representing the country. Another soldier, injured while serving in the high-altitude Kargil region, found a new calling in athletics. For these soldiers, injuries that could have ended their sporting and military aspirations instead marked the beginning of remarkable journeys to international glory.
Their stories of resilience and determination came into focus on Thursday when Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth felicitated Indian Army para-athletes who brought laurels to the country at the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Nine Army personnel competed at the continental event, with six winning medals, one Gold, two Silver and three Bronze. Their achievements underline how specialised rehabilitation, institutional support and sporting opportunities can help injured soldiers rebuild their lives and continue serving the nation in a different arena.
Leading the medal winners was Subedar Solairaj D of 21 MADRAS, who successfully defended his Asian Para Games Long Jump title, clinching Gold with an Asian-record leap of 7.15 metres.
His journey to the podium began with an injury sustained while serving in the Kargil region in February 2018. After nearly a year of treatment and recovery, he joined the Army Paralympic Node (APN) in May 2019 and began rebuilding his career through para-athletics.
Making his national debut in 2021, he won a Bronze medal in his first year of competition. He went on to win Gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games before repeating the feat in 2026. A Vishisht Seva Medal recipient, Solairaj has now set his sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.
Another inspiring journey belongs to Subedar H Hokato Sema of 9 ASSAM, who lost his left leg below the knee in a mine blast at Chowkibal in Jammu and Kashmir in October 2002.
After six months of treatment and rehabilitation, he chose to return to an active life through sport. Joining the Army Paralympic Node in January 2017, he gradually established himself as an international shot-putter.
Sema won Bronze at the 2023 Asian Para Games and followed it up with another Bronze at the Paris Paralympics in 2024 with a personal-best throw of 14.65 metres. The achievement made him the first athlete from Nagaland to win a Paralympic medal. His latest Bronze at Aichi-Nagoya adds to an extraordinary sporting career that has also earned him the Arjuna Award and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
For Subedar Ajay Kumar of 12 DOGRA, the turning point came in November 2017 when a mine blast during his posting at Uri resulted in the amputation of his left leg below the knee. After joining the APN in July 2018, he gradually returned to competitive sport and made his national debut in 2021. He won Silver in the 400-metre event at the 2023 Asian Para Games and secured Bronze in the same event at the 2026 edition, clocking 53.61 seconds.
The journey from a battle injury to the swimming pool was equally challenging for Havildar Kapil Kumar of 5 RAJPUT, who sustained an injury while serving at Poonch in December 2020.
Following six months of treatment, he joined the Army Paralympic Node in August 2021 and took up para-swimming. His first national-level medal came in March 2022. Five years after his injury, he reached the international podium with a Silver medal in the men's 400-metre freestyle swimming event at the Asian Para Games.
Havildar Pardeep Kumar of 16 RAJRIF also overcame a life-changing injury after a mine blast at Sunderbani in January 2019 resulted in the amputation of part of his left foot.
After nearly a year of rehabilitation, he joined the APN in February 2020 and took up discus throw. He won Bronze at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi before adding another Bronze at Aichi-Nagoya with a personal-best throw of 51.15 metres. His performance also contributed to India's clean sweep of the podium in the event.
The COAS also felicitated Simran, wife of Naik Gajender, who won two Gold medals in the 100-metre and 200-metre events, contributing to India's medal tally.
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Tags: #Wounded in battle# unbowed in spirit: Army para-athletes script stories of triumph
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Parwinder Sandhu
New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) A mine blast in Jammu and Kashmir cost him a leg, but not his dream of representing the country. Another soldier, injured while serving in the high-altitude Kargil region, found a new calling in athletics. For these soldiers, injuries that could have ended their sporting and military aspirations instead marked the beginning of remarkable journeys to international glory.

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