Indian para-athlete Nishad Kumar scripted history at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, on October 20, winning his second gold medal of the Games in the men’s high jump T47 and setting a new Games record with a clearance of 2.04 metres.
The 26-year-old had won gold in the T47 long jump just a day earlier, making him only the third Indian to win two gold medals in a single edition of the Asian Para Games, after runner Ankur Dhama and armless archer Sheetal Devi achieved the feat at Hangzhou 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nishad, calling his “versatility and pursuit of excellence” remarkable and praising his latest achievement.
Record-Breaking Clearance
The high jumper from Himachal Pradesh produced a commanding performance at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, clearing 1.88m, 1.94m, 1.98m and 2.02m on his first attempts before successfully crossing 2.04m. The effort surpassed the previous Asian Para Games record of 2.01m, set by Thailand’s Angkarn Chanaboon at the 2018 Jakarta edition.
After securing gold, Nishad raised the bar to 2.06m in an attempt to push the mark even higher, but could not clear it. Uzbekistan’s Muhammadabdulloh Tursunjonov won silver with 1.94m, while Chanaboon took bronze with 1.75m. The T47 category is for athletes with upper-limb impairments.
Golden Double In Nagoya
Nishad’s latest triumph came less than 24 hours after his first gold of the Games. On October 19, he won the men’s T47 long jump with a best effort of 7.11m, securing gold in an event he was competing in at the Asian Para Games for the first time. His back-to-back victories underline his versatility across jumping disciplines and have made him one of the standout performers of India’s campaign in Nagoya.
His two golds also place him alongside Ankur Dhama, who won the men’s 1,500m and 5,000m T11 titles at Hangzhou, and Sheetal Devi, who won two compound archery golds at the same Games.
A Journey Of Resilience
Nishad’s achievement carries significance beyond the medal tally. His right arm was severed in an accident involving a grass-cutting machine at his family farm in Amb, Himachal Pradesh, when he was six years old. He later established himself as one of India’s leading para-athletes, winning silver in the men’s high jump T47 at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
He also won gold at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games and at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi. His latest performance adds another chapter to a career built through sustained competition, adaptation and determination.
India’s Athletics Surge
Nishad’s double gold was part of a particularly productive day for India’s para-athletics contingent. Indian athletes won five gold medals on October 20, with Deepthi Jeevanji successfully defending her women’s 400m T20 title in a Games-record 56.36 seconds, while Simran won the women’s 200m T12 in a record 24.80 seconds.
Pranav Soorma and Devender Kumar also won gold in their respective discus throw events. By the end of the day, India had climbed to 35 medals — nine gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze — with athletics accounting for 20 of those medals.
Praise From PM Modi
Nishad’s performance also drew recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In an official statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi congratulated the athlete for winning gold with a new Games record and noted that he had finished the Games with two gold medals. “His versatility and pursuit of excellence are truly remarkable,” the Prime Minister said, while extending his best wishes for Nishad’s future endeavours. The recognition comes as India’s para-athletes continue to make a strong impression across athletics, archery and badminton in Nagoya.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Nishad’s success also highlights how para-sport has increasingly become a space where Indian athletes are challenging records and broadening expectations around sporting excellence. His achievement is not simply about clearing a height or collecting another medal; it reflects the importance of sustained training, access to competitive platforms and an environment in which athletes with disabilities can pursue sport at the highest level.
As India celebrates Nishad Kumar’s historic double gold, what more can be done to ensure that such achievements translate into greater opportunities and lasting support for para-athletes across the country?
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