Asian Para Games 2026: Pradeep Bags Silver, Ayush Gets Bronze in Men's Javelin Throw F53/54
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
India’s Pradeep Kumar won silver and Ayush Verma secured bronze in the men’s javelin throw F53/54 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 on Tuesday, giving the country two more medals in athletics.
Pradeep, competing in the F54 category, finished second with a personal best throw of 27.45 metres. The medal marked his second consecutive silver at the Asian Para Games.
Ayush, who competes in the F53 category, claimed bronze with a throw of 17.88 metres. His performance earned him enough Raza points to secure a place on the podium.
Iran’s Erfan Bandori Defends Gold With Games Record
Iran’s Erfan Bandori retained his title with a Games record throw of 30.24 metres.
Thailand’s Sahar-dam Yaena threw 23.31 metres but finished behind Ayush in the final standings. The Raza points system, which adjusts scores according to athletes’ classifications and levels of disability, determines the rankings when competitors from different categories participate in the same event.
What Is the Raza Points System?
The Raza points system allows athletes with different classifications to compete in the same event on a comparable basis. It converts their performances into scores based on their classification and level of disability.
This explains why Ayush finished ahead of Yaena despite the Thai athlete recording a longer throw.
Understanding F53 and F54 Classifications
The F53 classification covers athletes with good arm and hand function but limited trunk control and no sitting balance because of reduced abdominal and lower-back muscle function.
Athletes in the F54 category have good arm strength and some or full trunk muscle power, although their trunk and leg movements remain significantly affected.
Ashok Malik Wins Silver in Men’s 65kg Para Powerlifting
India’s Ashok Kumar Malik won silver in the men’s 65kg para powerlifting final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games on Tuesday. The 17-time national champion lifted 187kg in his first attempt and improved to 192kg in his second but failed to lift 201kg in his final attempt.
The Haryana athlete previously won gold at the 2022 Asia Oceania Championship and bronze at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou. He also won silver at the 2023 Para Powerlifting World Cup in Egypt, gold at the 2024 Pattaya World Cup and bronze at the 2024 Tbilisi World Cup.
Hailing from Mirzapur Khedi in Haryana’s Sonipat district, Malik contracted polio at the age of five. He took up powerlifting in 2011 after drawing inspiration from the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. His journey was supported by his aunt, coach JP Singh and friend Vikram Singh Mor.
