India secured two medals in shot put at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan, with Tajinderpal Singh Toor winning silver in the men’s event on September 26 and Manpreet Kaur claiming bronze in the women’s competition a day earlier. Toor recorded a best throw of 20.64 metres, while Kaur secured her first Asian Games medal with a throw of 17.17 metres. The results gave India podium finishes in both categories, adding to the country’s athletics medal tally.
Toor Extends Podium Streak
Indian shot putter Tajinderpal Singh Toor won silver in the men’s shot put final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 26, finishing with a best throw of 20.64 metres. The two-time defending champion narrowly missed out on a third consecutive gold medal but extended his record of finishing on the podium to three successive editions of the continental sporting event.
Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebise won gold with a Games-record throw of 20.81 metres, surpassing Toor’s previous Games record of 20.75 metres, set in 2018. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Tolu secured bronze with a throw of 20.48 metres. Toor’s medal-winning effort came in his fifth attempt, moving him into second place after he had briefly slipped to third. Despite his late challenge, he finished 17 centimetres behind Tayebise.
The silver medal marked another significant milestone for Toor, who won gold at the 2018 Jakarta and 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. His performance in Nagoya ensured that he remained among the leading performers in the men’s shot put at the continental level, even as the gold medal changed hands.
Manpreet Makes History
A day before Toor’s silver-medal finish, Indian shot putter Manpreet Kaur won bronze in the women’s shot put final on September 25 with a best throw of 17.17 metres. The medal was her first at the Asian Games and made her the third Indian woman to win a medal in the event, following Barbara Webster in 1951 and Kiran Baliyan in 2023.
The 36-year-old improved her distance across the competition, recording her medal-winning effort in the fourth round. China’s Song Jiayuan won gold with 19.40 metres, while compatriot Zhang Linru took silver with 18.14 metres. India’s other finalist, Krishna Jayasankar Menon, finished fifth with a best throw of 16.57 metres.
Kaur’s bronze followed a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she recorded 17.49 metres. Her Asian Games performance marked a return to the podium at a major international competition and added a historic milestone to her career. Speaking after the event, she highlighted the presence of her family in the stands, with her daughter and husband cheering her on.
A Milestone For Indian Athletics
The two medals gave India a podium finish in both the men’s and women’s shot put events at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Toor’s silver and Kaur’s bronze also added to the country’s athletics achievements at the ongoing competition, highlighting the presence of Indian athletes across both categories.
Toor’s result continued a run of Asian Games success that began with his gold medal in Jakarta in 2018 and continued in Hangzhou in 2023. Kaur’s achievement, meanwhile, added her name to a short list of Indian women who have medalled in the event. Together, their performances underlined the progress and experience represented by India’s shot put contingent.
The results also drew recognition from public officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Kaur on her bronze medal, praising her effort and wishing her continued success. The Prime Minister’s Office shared the message on September 25.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Sport has the power to bring people together across regions, languages and backgrounds, creating moments of shared pride and mutual respect. Toor’s silver and Kaur’s bronze reflect years of preparation, perseverance and commitment, while their achievements also highlight the importance of supporting athletes at every stage of their careers.
Celebrating sporting milestones should go hand in hand with recognising the dedication of athletes, coaches and families who contribute to their journeys. As India celebrates these performances at the Asian Games, how can the country build a stronger culture of support for athletes and encourage more young people to take up sports?
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Congratulations to Tajinderpal Singh Toor on clinching the Silver Medal in Men’s Shot Put at the #AsianGames2026 and creating history with his third consecutive Asian Games medal.
— Arun Govil (@arungovil12) September 26, 2026
Your consistency, determination and excellence continue to make Bharat proud.#Cheer4Bharat 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/MJiR4oHF6y
