Nishad’s right arm was severed by a grass-cutting machine at his family farm in Himachal Pradesh’s Amb when he was merely six. (Photo: X/@airnewsalerts)
Nishad Kumar claimed India's first para-athletics gold at the ongoing Asian Para Games as he topped the men's long jump T47 event with a dominating performance on Monday (October 19, 2026).
🥇 GOLD FOR BHARAT! 🇮🇳 Heartiest congratulations to Nishad Kumar on striking Gold in his Asian Para Games debut with a phenomenal 7.11m leap in the Men's Long Jump T47. The entire nation is proud of you! #Cheer4Bharat https://t.co/mJvyzKxSvQ
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) October 19, 2026
The 27-year-old, who had won a gold in the high jump T47 event in the previous Asian Para Games in China, produced an effort of 7.11m in both his third and fifth attempts to win the gold on the opening day of para-athletics competition.
Remarkably, it was his first competitive outing in long jump.
The two-time Paralympic silver-medallist will also compete in his pet event, high jump T47, in the ongoing Games.
Omadbek Khasanov of Uzbekistan and Mohammadu Safran of Sri Lanka took the silver and bronze with efforts of 6.99m and 6.55m respectively.
T47 classification is for athletes with upper limb impairments.
Nishad's right arm was severed by a grass-cutting machine at his family farm in Himachal Pradesh's Amb when he was merely six.
Published - October 19, 2026 04:22 pm IST