Chennai, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tamil Nadu’s promising sprinter Abinaya Rajarajan rocketed off the blocks to set a national record in the Under-20 women’s 100m on the opening day of the 41st National Junior Athletics Championships 2026, which got underway at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Friday.

It was a double delight for Tamil Nadu’s team as Neil Samraj R. also improved his own national 100m record in the U18 men's group.

Abinaya stamped her authority in the 100m dash, clocking 11.49 seconds to win gold, bettering her own national record of 11.54 seconds set last year in Kochi.

Neil’s gold-winning time was 10.45 seconds. It was better than his own national U18 100m record of 10.46 seconds set earlier this year in Ludhiana. Neil also improved the meet record of 10.63 seconds set by Anshu Rajak.

Punjab’s international thrower Amanat Kamboj dominated the women's U20 discus throw. On her way to gold, she recorded a throw of 51.44m. The previous record of 49.85m was set by Kamalpreet Kaur.

Supriya Attri (Uttar Pradesh) was a close second with a throw of 51.40m.

Results:

Men's U20 5,000m: Abhinandan Suryavan (Maharashtra) 14:32.08, Aakash (Uttar Pradesh) 14:32.14, Rohit Choudhary (Rajasthan) 14:32.35.

Men's U20 Pole vault: Arya Dev (Uttar Pradesh) 4.60m, Ajeet Kumar (Rajasthan) 4.60m, RR Vishal (Tamil Nadu) 4.40m.

Men's U18 100m: Neil Samraj R (Tamil Nadu) 10.45 seconds (national record), J Nived Krishna (Kerala) 10.67 seconds, Abhishek Naruka (Rajasthan) 10.78 seconds.

Women's U20 100m: Abinaya Rajarajan (Tamil Nadu) 11.49 seconds (national record), Kajal Vaja (Gujarat) 11.61 seconds, Nancy (Haryana) 11.83 seconds.

Women's U20 5,000m: Tamanna (Karnataka) 17:27.85, Roshini Kalura (Uttarakhand) 17:35.71, Archita Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh) 17:36.25.

Women's U20 Discus throw: Amanat Kamboj (Punjab) 51.44m (meet record), Supriya Attri (Uttar Pradesh) 51.40m, Anushree KS (Tamil Nadu) 46.82m.

Women's: U18 100m: T Mrithika (Tamil Nadu) 11.71 seconds, Suchithra S (Karnataka) 11.98 seconds, Saawari Kulkarni (Maharashtra) 12.09 seconds.

Girls' U14 Triathlon B: Pinki Pal (West Bengal) 2894 points, Devanshi Amit Kale (Maharashtra) 2837 points, Himadari Bhardwaj (Uttar Pradesh) 2824 points.

Boys' U14 Triathlon B: Sumit Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) 3256 points, Sadhon Ghosh (West Bengal) 3192 points, Pradeeh Varsa (Telangana) 2784 points.

Women's U18 Javelin throw: Misti Karmakar (West Bengal) 51.41m, Apiksha Kumari (Gujarat) 49.22m, Shivani Patel (Madhya Pradesh) 47.55m.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Paralympic gold medallist Navdeep Singh won the bronze medal in the Men’s Javelin Throw F40/F41 event at the Asian Para Games with a best effort of 42.55 metres, while para-athlete Rakeshbhai Bhatt clinched bronze in the Men's 200m T37 on Friday.

Navdeep, who won gold at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, finished third in the final after recording his best throw on his second attempt. His remaining four attempts were fouls.

Iran’s Beit Sadegh clinched the gold medal with a throw of 45.78 metres, while Indonesia’s Ansyari took silver with a personal best of 43.55 metres.

The bronze adds to an impressive international career for Navdeep, who has established himself among India’s leading para-athletes through consistent performances at major competitions.

The athlete from Panipat, Haryana, rose to prominence with his gold medal-winning performance at the Paris Paralympics in 2024. He had finished fourth at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021 and also secured fourth place at the 2022 Asian Para Games, held in 2023.

Navdeep has also enjoyed success at the World Para Athletics Championships, winning silver in 2025 and bronze in 2024. He finished fourth at the 2023 edition of the championships and won gold at the U20 World Para Athletics Championships in 2019.

His other international achievements include gold medals at the Desert Challenge Cup in the United States in 2022 and the Fazza Grand Prix in Dubai in 2021. He also won gold at the Indian Open in 2023 and 2026.

Rakeshbhai, who was making his debut in the Para-Asian Games, started off the men's 200m T37 well but was pushed back by Saudi Arabia's Ali Alnakhli, who won gold in 23.32 seconds, setting an Asian Para Games record, and Indonesia's Saptoyogo Purnomo took silver in 23.45 seconds in the later stages. He finished the race in 23.64 seconds to bag a bronze medal.

Hailing from a village in Gujarat, Rakesh began his journey in para-sports with the ambition of developing his abilities as a competitive sprinter. His involvement in athletics has provided him with an opportunity to pursue his sporting aspirations and progress towards higher levels of competition.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Haney and Sandeep won the gold medals with world record shows in the men's javelin throw F37/38 and men's 400m T64, respectively, at the Asian Para Games here on Friday.

Haney clinched the gold medal with a throw of 60.49 m, setting a new world record in the T37 category and scoring 1,116 Raza points. Iran's Hormoz Seidikazpounji bagged silver with a personal best of 50.68m (1009 points) and China's Yu Chengjie claimed bronze with an Asian record 53.66m (943 points).

Haney, who has been living with spasticity and weakness on the left side of his body since childhood, has also won a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games, held in 2023, setting an Asian record in javelin throw.

Debutant Sandeep clinched the gold medal in Men’s 400m T64 with a timing of 52.28s, setting a new world record in the T44 category. Saudi Arabia's Nour Alsana won silver with the season's best timing of 53.13. In the same event, Ajay Kumar secured the bronze medal with a timing of 53.61s.

Sandeep began his journey in para-athletics in 2020. His efforts soon paid off when he won his first medal at the Para National Games held in Bengaluru in 2021. He also won the bronze in 200m T44 at the World Para Athletics Championships, New Delhi 2025. He also has gold in 100m T44, which he won at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026.

Meanwhile, Nimisha Chakkungalparambil Suresh won a silver medal in the women's long jump T47 with the best jump of 5.37 m, scoring 818 Raza points.

Nimisha made an impressive international debut at the Fazza World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai in February 2021, winning the gold medal in the women's long jump F46/47 with a jump of 5.25 metres.

She also represented India at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, gaining experience against a strong international field. Her most prominent achievement came at the fourth Asian Para Games in Hangzhou (officially the 2022 edition, held in October 2023). She won the gold medal in the women's long jump T47 event, contributing to India's historic medal-winning campaign.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bhavikkumar Bharwad's silver medal finish was stripped away as he was disqualified due to a second-lane infringement in the Men's 400m T47 final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium here on Thursday.

Bhavikkumar finished second with a time of 49.31s behind another Indian, Dilip Mahadu Gavit (T46), who won the gold with a time of 48.27s. However, he was disqualified following the race due to a TR18.2 (c) infringement, which translates to a second-lane infringement.

With Bhavikkumar getting disqualified, Japan's Kakeru Ishida, who had initially finished third with a time of 49.58s, has been promoted to second place for a silver medal.

Moreover, Uzbekistan's Marufjon Murodulloev and Sri Lanka's Saman Subasinghe were promoted to the joint third place. Both the runners-up had clocked an identical time of 50.03s for their season-best performance.

While Bhavikkumar was disqualified, Gavit won his second gold medal at the ongoing Games. Gavit won his second gold after he clinched yellow metal in the Men's 100m T47 category too.

Gavit's gold was India's 20th gold at the ongoing Asian Para Games as the contingent continues putting up strong performances in Aichi-Nagoya.

Gavit (T46 category) clinched the gold medal in the 100m T47 event with an impressive time of 10.69 seconds. Adding to India's success, Basil (T47 category) secured silver with a time of 10.72 seconds, setting a new Games record.

Dilip Gavit had earlier won gold in the Men's 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games, securing India's historic 100th medal at the Games. He further made the nation proud by reaching the final of the Men's 400m T47 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Born in the small village of Toran Dongari near Nashik, Maharashtra, Dilip Gavit grew up in a humble farming family. His life took a major turn when, at five to six years of age, he suffered a tragic fall from a tree, severely injuring his right arm.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) India’s Dharmaraj Solairaj strengthened his position among Asia’s leading para-athletes on Thursday, defending his men’s long jump title at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with a record-breaking effort of 7.15m.

Competing in the combined T44/T62/T64 final at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, the 32-year-old Tamil Nadu athlete produced his decisive jump on his second attempt, setting a new Asian record and securing his second successive gold medal at the continental multi-sport event.

The performance marked another milestone in Solairaj’s progression since winning gold at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in 2023. It also improved his previous Asian record of 7.08m, which he established at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.

Solairaj began his competition with a jump of 6.88m before soaring to 7.15m in the second round. He subsequently registered efforts of 6.82m and 6.85m before fouling his final two attempts. His early record-setting leap, however, proved sufficient to secure the title.

Malaysia’s Eddy Bernard finished second with 740 Raza points after recording a best distance of 6.34m in the T44 classification. Japan’s Yuma Tamaki claimed bronze with 726 points, producing a personal-best jump of 6.89m in the T64 category.

In the combined event, athletes from different classifications are assessed through the Raza points system, which accounts for the performance standards associated with their respective impairment categories. Solairaj finished at the top of the standings with 807 points.

The victory continued a remarkable sequence of improvements for the Indian jumper. At Hangzhou in October 2023, he claimed the Asian Para Games title with a final-round leap of 6.80m, which set an Asian record at the time. He subsequently raised the benchmark to 7.08m at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships, despite finishing seventh in the competition.

Earlier in 2026, Solairaj also won the combined T44/T64 long jump event at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in New Delhi with an effort of 7.05m, providing another indication of his form ahead of the Asian Para Games.

Competing in the T64 classification, Solairaj has now added another major title to his collection while pushing the continental record further. The category includes athletes with lower-limb impairments or below-knee amputations who compete using running prostheses.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian para-athletes secured another double podium finish at the ongoing Asian Para Games as Dilip Mahadu Gavit (T46 category)and Bhavikkumar Bharwad clinched a gold and a silver medal in the Men's 400m T47 final at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium here on Thursday.

Gavit won his second gold after he clinched a yellow metal in the Men's 100m T47 category too. The Indian sprinter won his second gold in the 400m T47 event when he clocked a time of 48.27s, while the other Indian, Bhavikkumar, was a close second, having taken the silver with a time of 49.31s. Japan's Kakeru Ishida took the bronze when he clocked 49.58s.

Gavit's gold was India's 20th gold at the ongoing Asian Para Games as the contingent continues putting up strong performances in Aichi-Nagoya. This was also his second gold of the ongoing Para Games.

Gavit (T46 category) clinched the gold medal in the 100m T47 event with an impressive time of 10.69 seconds. Adding to India's success, Basil (T47 category) secured silver with a time of 10.72 seconds, setting a new Games record.

Dilip Gavit had earlier won gold in the Men's 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games, securing India's historic 100th medal at the Games. He further made the nation proud by reaching the final of the Men's 400m T47 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Born in the small village of Toran Dongari near Nashik, Maharashtra, Dilip Gavit grew up in a humble farming family. His life took a major turn when, at five to six years of age, he suffered a tragic fall from a tree, thus severely injuring his right arm.

Due to the lack of timely medical treatment, the injury turned into gangrene, leading to the amputation of his arm below the elbow. Despite the huge setback, Gavit refused to let his disability define his future, fulfilling his passion for running with a career in para-athletics.

Practising on the dusty roads of his village, his talent was later recognised by coach Vaijnath Kale, who guided him into professional para-athletics.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) India delivered a spectacular performance in the Men’s High Jump T63 Final, achieving a podium sweep by securing all three medals. Shailesh Kumar clinched the gold medal, while Varun Bhati secured silver and Rahul bagged bronze.

Shailesh registered an outstanding jump of 1.89 metres to win the gold, while Varun secured silver with a jump of 1.84 metres. Rahul completed India’s clean sweep with a personal-best performance of 1.81 metres.

India replicated their 2022 podium sweep in the Men’s High Jump T42/T63, once again claiming all three medals. It was India’s third podium clean sweep at the Games. Devender Kumar had earlier led an Indian sweep in the men’s discus throw F44/64 event while Sachin Khilari led another in the men’s shot put F46 final.

Varun is an accomplished Indian para high jumper from Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. His breakthrough on the Paralympic stage came at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he cleared 1.86 metres to win the bronze medal in the men's high jump T42 event.

He subsequently won bronze at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships and silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, where he cleared 1.82 metres. More recently, he won a bronze medal in the men's high jump T63 at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, with a clearance of 1.85 metres.

Earlier in the day, India had a one-two finish in the 400m T47 event, with Anjanaben Bumbadiya clinching gold in 59.97 seconds and Jayant Behera securing silver in 1:00.65.

Anjanaben delivered a strong performance to claim the top spot on the podium, while Jayant followed closely to complete a memorable double podium finish for India, further strengthening the country's para athletics medal tally.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) In more double medal delight for India, Anjanaben Bumbadiya and Jayanti Nehra clinched gold and silver medals, respectively, in the Women's 400m T47 event at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium here on Thursday.

Anjanaben clinched the yellow metal in the 400m T47 run with a time of 59.97s (848 Raza points). She finished less than a second earlier than the other Indian, Jayanti, who won the silver with a time of 1:00.65s (815 Raza points), while Thailand's Sasirawan Inthachot was also close with a bronze medal finish and a time of 1:02.58s (714 Raza points). Nepal's Prabha Angdembe finished fourth as she clocked 1:15.81 (89 Raza points).

The Indian sprinter came close to breaking the Asian Para Games record time of 58.39s, which was set by prominent Chinese athlete Li Lu during the Jakarta Asian Games 2018.

Meanwhile, Tejalben Damor also won a silver for India in the Women's 400m T12 event with an impressive time of 57.60 seconds. Her performance earned India another medal at the Para athletics, highlighting India's strong performances in the event.

Iran's Hajar Safarzadeh won the gold medal with a time of 56.43 seconds, while China's Shen Yaqin (Guide He Yuchong) clinched the bronze after clocking 58.04 seconds.

Anjanaben is a Gujarat-based para athlete. She was born in 2001 in Gujarat with a congenital upper-limb impairment (one arm shorter than normal since birth).

She is one of the fastest-rising Indian female para-sprinters and the reigning Khelo India Para Games champion of 2025. She clocked her personal best time of 1:00.04s last year at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Jayanti is a 1999-born athlete from Odisha. She is classified under T47 and suffered a tragedy early in her life. She suffered severe second-degree burns when she was one year old as she accidentally fell into an earthen stove (chulha). This resulted in a permanent contracture of her left elbow and hand. Her school coach Bishnu Prasad Mishra identified her talent and enrolled her at his Gurukul Athletic Training Centre in Sakhigopal, where he trained her free of cost.

Jayanti won two medals at the 2018 Asian Para Games - a Silver Medal in the Women's 400m (T47) (59.71s) and a Bronze Medal in the Women's 200m (T47) (27.45s). She was also crowned the World Youth Champion (Gold Medal) in the 400m at the World Junior Para Athletics Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland, in 2017.

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a tragic incident, two Indian sprinters Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati and Malaya Barik died in a fatal road accident on the National Highway 16 near Phulnakhara in Kataka district late on Wednesday night.

Mrutyam, hailing from Kalahandi district, was among the country's fastest U23 sprinters in 2025. The deceased, Barik, was from the Baragada district. The duo was training at the High Performance Centres (HPCs) at the Kalinga Stadium Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar.

According to reports, four people; three athletes and a swimming coach were travelling on two two-wheelers to Kataka city to watch Durga Puja on Thursday night. Sources also added that Astik Pradhan, who recently secured a silver medal in the men’s 400-metre event at the U23 National Championships held in Jaipur, was reportedly riding a separate two-wheeler approximately 50 metres in the rear with the other member of the group.

The group was reportedly travelling to attend a Sambalpuri Melody orchestra being held in Kataka on the occasion of Durga Puja festival on Thursday night when the deceased athletes lost control over their vehicle and rammed into the barricades along the roadside on the National Highway near Phulankhara on last night. They were immediately rushed to SCB medical college and hospital where the doctors declared them dead.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Sports minister Suryabanshi Suraj and the sports fraternity across the state and country expressed deep grief over the tragic road mishap.

“Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of athletes Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati and Malaya Barik in a road accident. Their untimely passing is a profound loss to Odisha’s sporting fraternity. My heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath grant them strength in this difficult time and eternal peace to the departed souls,” wrote CM Majhi on his X handle.

IANS

grm/bc

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India continued its strong showing in para-athletics at the Asian Para Games 2026, with Simran claiming her second gold medal of the Games, Praveen Kumar defending his title, and Dilip Gavit Mahadu and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi securing a one-two finish in men's 100m T47 on Day 3 of the competitions in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan on Wednesday.

Simran set the ball rolling by winning the women’s 100m T12 final in a Games-record time of 12.02 seconds.

Simran claimed her second gold medal of the Games by winning the women’s 100m T12 final in a Games-record time of 12.02 seconds. She improved upon her previous record of 12.13 seconds, set in the heats, and upgraded her silver medal from the 2022 edition in Hangzhou to gold.

In the jumping events, India secured a one-two finish in the Men’s High Jump T44. Defending champion Praveen Kumar cleared a Games Record height of 2.05m to win gold, while Banti took silver with a personal best of 1.92m. Shailesh Kumar won bronze in the Men’s Long Jump T42 with a Games Record jump of 5.57m, achieved on his fifth attempt.

Pranav Desai won bronze in the men’s 100m T64 with a time of 11.96 seconds, improving on his fourth-place finish at the 2022 Asian Para Games, where he clocked 11.91 seconds.

India also secured a one-two finish in the men’s 100m T47, with Dilip Gavit Mahadu winning gold in 10.69 seconds and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi taking silver in 10.72 seconds, a new Games record. The pair repeated their one-two finish from the Commonwealth Games 2026.

In the men’s javelin throw F55, Sukhchain won bronze with a personal best of 29.94 metres. China’s Feifei Zhou took gold with a world-record throw of 37.63m, while Iran’s Zafar Zaker claimed silver with a personal best of 36.00m.

Manjeet Vyas added a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw F12/13 with a personal best of 61.03m. India also secured two podium finishes in the men’s javelin throw F53, with Pradeep Kumar winning silver with a personal best of 27.45m and Ayush Verma claiming bronze with a personal best of 17.88m.

Sachin Khilari won gold with a Games Record of 15.79m on his very first attempt, with all his throws exceeding 15m. Mohd Yasser took silver with a season-best throw of 15.06m, while Praveen added bronze with 13.83m. Ayush Verma won gold in the Men’s Shot Put F53 with a throw of 8.16m. Bhagyashri Jadhav took silver in the Women’s Shot Put F34 with a personal best of 8.19m, while Ravi Rongali won bronze in the Men’s Shot Put F40 with a throw of 10.02m.

Karamjyoti won bronze in the Women’s Discus Throw F55 with a personal best of 21.60m. Haney also secured bronze in the Men’s Discus Throw F37 with a personal best of 57.04m, marking a significant improvement on India’s seventh-place finish in the event at the 2022 edition.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya (Japan), Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Para-athletes made their mark for India with Simran claiming her second gold medal of the event and Dilip Gavit Mahadu and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi securing a one-two finish in men's 100m T47 while defending champion Praveen Kumar cleared a Games Record height of 2.05m to win gold at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan on Wednesday.

Indian athletes broke Games Records, set personal bests and swept all three medals in an event in Aichi-Nagoya as the country moved one place up from sixth to fifth in the standings on Day 6 of competitions, taking the medal tally to 62, comprising 14 gold, 22 silver and 26 bronze medals.

With Games records, a clean sweep and a series of personal bests, India’s para contingent wrapped up the day with its strongest medal haul yet, claiming five gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze medals.

The throwing arena was the centre of success on the day for the country, with India claiming all three medals in the Men’s Shot Put F46.

Sachin Khilari won gold with a Games Record of 15.79m on his very first attempt, with all his throws exceeding 15m. Mohd Yasser took silver with a season-best throw of 15.06m, while Praveen added bronze with 13.83m. Ayush Verma won gold in the Men’s Shot Put F53 with a throw of 8.16m. Bhagyashri Jadhav took silver in the Women’s Shot Put F34 with a personal best of 8.19m, while Ravi Rongali won bronze in the Men’s Shot Put F40 with a throw of 10.02m.

Manjeet won silver in the Men’s Javelin Throw F13 with a career-best throw of 61.03m, while Sukhchian claimed bronze in the Men’s Javelin Throw F55 with 29.94m. Karamjyoti won bronze in the Women’s Discus Throw F55 with a personal best of 21.60m. Haney also secured bronze in the Men’s Discus Throw F37 with a personal best of 57.04m, marking a significant improvement on India’s seventh-place finish in the event at the 2022 edition.

In the jumping events, India secured a one-two finish in the Men’s High Jump T44. Defending champion Praveen Kumar cleared a Games Record height of 2.05m to win gold, while Banti took silver with a personal best of 1.92m. Shailesh Kumar won bronze in the Men’s Long Jump T42 with a Games Record jump of 5.57m, achieved on his fifth attempt.

On the track, Dilip Gavit Mahadu won gold in the Men’s 100m T47 in 10.69 seconds, with Mohammed Basil taking silver in 10.72 seconds. Anubhav Choudhary won bronze in the Men’s 100m T35 with a personal best of 12.72 seconds, while Pranav Desai claimed bronze in the Men’s 100m T64 in 11.96 seconds. Sharath Makanahalli also secured bronze in the Men’s 1500m T12 with a season-best time of 4:11.01. Meanwhile, Rakeshbhai Bhatt clocked a personal best of 11.50 seconds in the Men’s 100m T37.

There was success for India in other sports too, with the archers continuing their superb run.

In para archery, Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag won silver in the Para Compound Women’s Doubles event, losing 141–150 to China’s Xu Xueqing and Zhao Jing in a spirited final.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian para-athlete Haney clinched a bronze medal in the men’s discus throw F37 event with a personal best of 57.04 metres at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya in Japan on Wednesday, adding to India’s medal tally in para athletics.

Supported by the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), Haney produced his best effort to secure a podium finish on Day 6 of the competition. He is scheduled to compete next in the men’s javelin throw F37/F38 event on Thursday.

In the final, Haney started with a throw of 52.80m on the first attempt. He fouled on the second turn and turned in a below-par 49.57m. On his fourth attempt, Haney reached 52.07m before securing the bronze medal with his personal best throw of 57.04m.

His performance marks a difference of 12.91m compared with the one produced by Rishi Raj in the Hangzhou Para Games in 2022, as he finished 7th with a throw of 44.13m.

Kudratillokhon Marugkhujaev of Uzbekistan won the gold medal with a Games Record throw of 57.39m, with Haidar Ali of Pakistan taking silver with 57.20m, his personal best effort.

Earlier in the day, in the men’s javelin throw F55, Sukhchain won bronze with a personal best of 29.94 metres. China’s Feifei Zhou took gold with a world-record throw of 37.63m, while Iran’s Zafar Zaker claimed silver with a personal best of 36.00m.

Manjeet Vyas added a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw F12/13 with a personal best of 61.03m. India also secured two podium finishes in the men’s javelin throw F53, with Pradeep Kumar winning silver with a personal best of 27.45m and Ayush Verma claiming bronze with a personal best of 17.88m.

The Indian athletics contingent continued its fine performance in the Asian Para Games as Pranav Desai won bronze in the men’s 100m T64 with a time of 11.96 seconds, improving on his fourth-place finish at the 2022 Asian Para Games, where he clocked 11.91 seconds.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pranav Desai bagged a bronze medal in men’s 100m T64 at the Para Asian Games in Nagoya on Wednesday with a time of 11.96 seconds.

In the Hangzhou Para Asian Games, Pranav finished fourth with a time of 11.91 seconds in 2022. He has improved his finishing position by one place, despite a timing difference of 0.05 seconds.

T64 sports category is for athletes with lower limbs competing with prostheses affected by limb deficiency and leg length difference. Pranav, hailing from Thane, Maharashtra, is a congenital right below-knee amputee.

He has competed in para sports since 2017 and specialises in the T64 sprint events, the 100m and 200m. Through hard work, discipline and determination, Pranav keeps pushing his limits to represent India with pride.

Earlier, India scripted another memorable finish in the para athletics competition at the Para Asian Games as Dilip Gavit Mahadu (T46 category) clinched the gold medal in the Men’s 100m T47 and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver.

Gavit Mahadu (T46 category) clinched the gold medal with an impressive time of 10.69 seconds. Adding to India’s success, Basil (T47 category) secured the silver medal with a time of 10.72 seconds, setting a new Games Record in the event.

The duo replicated their 1-2 finish from the Commonwealth Games 2026, where Dilip Gavit clinched the gold medal with a Games Record in the men’s 100m T47, while Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver medal to complete a dominant Indian one-two.

The T46 and T47 classifications in para-athletics apply to standing athletes with upper-limb impairments, such as limb deficiency or amputation.

T46 involves single-arm above- or below-elbow amputation or similar significant impairment, while T47 represents a more moderate upper-limb impairment allowing greater wrist and arm function, primarily affecting sprints and jumps.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian para-athlete Sukhchain won bronze in the Men’s Javelin Throw F55 event at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday, registering a personal best of 29.94 metres to add to India’s athletics medal tally.

Sukhchain produced his best effort on his third attempt, improving on his opening throw of 27.35m. He followed it up with throws of 27.84m, 27.56m, 29.06m and 27.22m to finish with a best distance of 29.94m.

China’s Feifei Zhou won the gold medal with a World Record throw of 37.63m, while Iran’s Zafar Zaker claimed silver with a personal best of 36.00m.

Sukhchain’s bronze continued his consistent performances at the Asian Para Games. He also won bronze in the Men’s Javelin Throw F55 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China, with a throw of 30.36 m.

India had already secured several medals in javelin throw events earlier in the ongoing competition.

Manjeet Vyas won silver in the Men’s Javelin Throw F13 category with a personal best of 61.03 m on Wednesday.

Competing in the combined F12/13 event, he produced the best effort on his second attempt to secure a podium finish.

Manjeet’s silver added to an impressive season in which he won gold in the Men’s Javelin Throw F13 at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Delhi and the Indian Open Para Athletics Championships in Bengaluru. He had also topped the podium at the Asian Para Games qualifiers with a throw of 59.08m.

Earlier, Pradeep Kumar and Ayush Verma finished second and third, respectively, in the Men’s Javelin Throw F53 category. Pradeep, competing in the F54 classification, recorded a personal best of 27.45m on his final attempt to win silver, while Ayush secured bronze with a personal best of 17.88m in his fifth attempt. The event uses a points-based system to assess athletes from different classifications.

India also secured a one-two finish in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 event on Monday, with Rinku Hooda winning gold with 65.11m and Ajeet Singh taking silver with 65.02m. The difference between the two Indian athletes was just nine centimetres.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pranav Desai bagged a bronze medal in men’s 100m T64 at the Para Asian Games here on Wednesday with a timing of 11.96 seconds.

In the Hangzhou Para Asian Games, Pranav finished 4th with a timing of 11.91s in 2022. He has improved his finishing position by one place, despite a timing difference of 0.05 seconds.

T64 sports category is for athletes with lower limbs competing with prosthesis affected by limb deficiency and leg length difference. Pranav, hailing from Thane, Maharashtra, is a congenital right below-knee amputee.

He has competed in para sports since 2017 and specialises in the T64 sprint events, the 100m and 200m. Through hard work, discipline and determination, Pranav keeps pushing his limits to represent India with pride.

Earlier, India scripted another memorable finish in the para athletics competition at the Para Asian Games as Dilip Gavit Mahadu (T46 category) clinched the gold medal in the Men’s 100m T47 and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver.

Gavit Mahadu (T46 category) clinched the gold medal with an impressive timing of 10.69 seconds. Adding to India’s success, Basil (T47 category) secured the silver medal with a time of 10.72 seconds, setting a new Games Record in the event.

The duo replicated their 1-2 finish from the Commonwealth Games 2026, where Dilip Gavit clinched the gold medal with a Games Record in the men’s 100m T47, while Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver medal to complete a dominant Indian one-two.

The T46 and T47 classifications in para-athletics apply to standing athletes with upper-limb impairments, such as limb deficiency or amputation.

T46 involves single-arm above- or below-elbow amputation or similar significant impairment, while T47 represents a more moderate upper-limb impairment allowing greater wrist and arm function, primarily affecting sprints and jumps.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India scripted another memorable finish in the para athletics competition at the Para Asian Games as Dilip Gavit Mahadu (T46 category) clinched the gold medal in the Men’s 100m T47 and Mohammed Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver.

Gavit Mahadu (T46 category) clinched the gold medal with an impressive timing of 10.69 seconds. Adding to India’s success, Basil (T47 category) secured the silver medal with a time of 10.72 seconds, setting a new Games Record in the event.

The duo replicated their 1-2 finish from the Commonwealth Games 2026, where Dilip Gavit clinched the gold medal with a Games Record in the men’s 100m T47, while Basil Morssinganakathi secured the silver medal to complete a dominant Indian one-two.

Dilip Gavit had earlier won gold in the men’s 400m T47 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games, securing India’s historic 100th medal at the Games. He further made the nation proud by reaching the final of the men’s 400m T47 event at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Born in the small village of Toran Dongari near Nashik, Maharashtra, Dilip Gavit grew up in a humble farming family. His life took a major turn when, at five to six years of age, he suffered a tragic fall from a tree, thus severely injuring his right arm.

Due to the lack of timely medical treatment, the injury turned into gangrene, leading to the amputation of his arm below the elbow. Despite the huge setback, Gavit refused to let his disability define his future, fulfilling his passion for running with a career in para-athletics.

Practising on the dusty roads of his village, his talent was later recognised by coach Vaijnath Kale, who guided him into professional para-athletics.

The T46 and T47 classifications in para-athletics apply to standing athletes with upper-limb impairments, such as limb deficiency or amputation. T46 involves single-arm above- or below-elbow amputation or similar significant impairment, while T47 represents a more moderate upper-limb impairment allowing greater wrist and arm function, primarily affecting sprints and jumps.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Preethi Pal clinched a silver medal in the Women's 100m T35 event at the Asian Para Games here on Wednesday.

Preethi clinched the silver, clocking an impressive time of 29.53 seconds. This is her second medal at the ongoing continental event, having bagged the silver in the 200m T35 event on Tuesday.

Preethi is a decorated Indian para athlete. She has won two bronze medals in the Paralympics. She has one silver and three bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, along with four gold medals at the Indian Open tournaments. She has also won a gold in the New Delhi Grand Prix.

Born to a farmer's family in rural UP, Preethi faced significant physical challenges from the day she was born, as her lower body had to be plastered for six days after birth. Weak legs and an irregular leg posture mean she was prone to various diseases.

Preethi underwent various traditional treatments to strengthen her legs but had to start wearing callipers at the age of five and wore them for eight years. Despite many doubting her survival, she proved to be a fighter, overcoming life-threatening conditions to demonstrate incredible strength and resilience.

She got interested in para-sports at the age of 17 after watching clips of the Paralympic Games on social media. Her life changed a few years after starting to practise athletics when she met her mentor, Paralympian Fathima Khatoon.

Encouraged by Fathima, Preeti took part in district, state, and national competitions and made her international appearance at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games in 2023.

Preethi bagged her first international medal in the World Para Athletics Championship, where she claimed bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m events in 2024.

She scripted history after clinching bronze in the women's 200m T35 in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris as she became the first Indian woman athlete to win two medals in track & field in the Paralympics or Olympics. She also bagged a bronze in women's 200m T35.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian para-athlete Tejalben Amraji Damor said she was determined to return with a medal despite the personal hardships she faced, a resolve that helped her clinch bronze in the women’s 200m T12 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old visually impaired sprinter from Gujarat also registered a personal best on her debut at the continental games.

“We came here with great expectations, immense hard work and a strong determination to win. My journey has involved a lot of struggle, but I was determined that whatever the difficulties, I had to return with a medal,” Tejalben said.

Training at the Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (SAI NCoE) in Gandhinagar, Tejalben clocked 25.25 seconds in the heats to finish second in her heat and qualify for the final. The timing bettered her previous mark of 25.47 seconds, recorded while winning gold at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September.

Tejalben also acknowledged the contribution of her coach, highlighting his commitment to ensuring that her training continued without interruption.

“First of all, I want to thank my coach. There has been tremendous hard work and discipline behind this medal. Even when Sunday was supposed to be a rest day, my coach never allowed our training to suffer. If we had a training session scheduled, he would be there. I want to thank him before anyone else,” she said.

Hailing from Dahod in Gujarat, Tejalben began her para-athletics journey in 2022 and has steadily progressed at the national and international levels. She finished sixth at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2025 before winning gold at the National Championships in 2026 and the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix.

Her preparations have been supported by structured coaching and training facilities at SAI NCoE Gandhinagar. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has also extended financial assistance of Rs 205,961 towards her sporting preparations under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC).

With the women’s 400m T12 event, her primary discipline, coming up next, Tejalben hopes to build on the confidence gained from her 200m podium finish.

“My main event is the 400 metres, which is coming up next. My coach and I believed that winning a medal in the 200 metres would give us greater confidence for the 400 metres. Now, with this medal, I feel even more confident about giving my best in my main event,” she added.

Beyond her competitive ambitions, Tejalben aspires to establish a dedicated running track for visually impaired children in Dahod to provide them with better opportunities to participate in athletics and develop their sporting potential.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya (Japan), Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Nishad Kumar clinched his second gold medal in the ongoing Asian Para Games as he won the top prize in the Men's High Jump T47 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Tuesday.

Nishad won the gold medal with a new Games Record as he cleared the 2.04m mark in the final. The previous record belonged to Thailand's Angkarn Chanaboon, who had leapt to the mark of 2.01m at the Jakarta 2018 Games.

Meanwhile, Nishad also holds the Asian record of 2.14m that he set during the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 in New Delhi. The world record belongs to America's Roderick Townsend-Roberts, at 2.16 m.

Coming to the competition, Uzbekistan's Muhammadabdulloh Tursunjonov won the silver with a best jump of 1.94, which is also his personal best now. Thailand's Chanaboon won the bronze with a jump of 1.75m.

Nishad had passed the first six efforts of 1.60m, 1.65m, 1.70m, 1.75m, 1.80m and 1.85m before he made his first attempt at 1.88m. He then skipped 1.91m and cleared 1.94m with ease on the first effort as well.

Nishad passed 1.96m as well and then soared over the bar kept at 1.98m, 2.02m and 2.04m successfully each on first attempt to win the gold with the Games record.

Earlier, Nishad had won a gold in the Men's T47 long jump event at the Games with a best effort of 7.11m. Known primarily for his achievements in the high jump, Nishad made an emphatic statement in a discipline that remains secondary to his speciality. His winning distance proved beyond the reach of the competition, with the Indian recording 7.11m twice during the final to establish his superiority.

Nishad is a decorated Indian para athlete. He has won silver medals at the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics in the High Jump T47 events, a gold in the 2025 World Championships, and also a yellow metal in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games in the High Jump T47 event.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya (Japan), Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian javelin thrower Rinku Hooda clinched the men’s F46 gold medal at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya on Monday, producing a final-attempt throw of 65.11m to beat compatriot Ajeet Singh by nine centimetres.

The 27-year-old from Dhamar, Haryana, secured the title despite battling a shoulder injury during preparations and struggling emotionally following his mother’s death on August 8. Speaking after his victory, Hooda revealed the extent of his grief, the challenges of returning to training, and his determination to remain competitive. “There has never been a day when I haven’t cried. From morning to evening. Every time, I cry once or twice a day. I miss her. But I never thought that this would happen to me,” Hooda told IANS in an exclusive interaction.

Hooda said the loss had affected him deeply, making it difficult to concentrate on training even as he continued competing and winning medals.

“You can’t train, to be honest. I am telling the truth. You can say anything from the outside. But as long as you are a bit of a family man, you don’t say that whatever has happened is fine. But still, the heart doesn’t agree from the inside. I still win medals. I don’t feel that I have won a medal. I have been like this from the inside since my mother passed away. There has never been a day when I haven’t cried. From morning to evening. Every time, I cry once or twice a day. I miss her. But I never thought that this would happen to me,” he expressed.

Recalling the circumstances surrounding his mother’s death, Hooda described a moment that continues to haunt him. He said his mother had been resting with her head on his hand before he left briefly to undergo a doping test.

“Everyone has to go one day. I also have to go one day. Everyone has to. But it just feels like when it’s time to see the happiness, then that person leaves you. The day my mother passed away, she was sleeping on my hand till 3:10 pm. When I went to sleep, my brother Anuj came. He told me to go to sleep and said he’ll take care of her. My mother’s oxygen was continuously on. As soon as I fell asleep, the doping team came to take my test. I told my mother that I would be back in 10 minutes after giving the sample. I went to the adjacent house, our second house. I’ll remember those 10 minutes throughout my life; the shock that I felt, I still feel that shock,” an emotional Hooda, still in grief, said.

Hooda resumed training on August 19 but found it difficult to return to his routine. His father encouraged him to continue working towards his sporting ambitions, although a subsequent shoulder injury created another obstacle.

“I have been going through a disturbance for the last two and a half months. Since August 8. When I started training, I didn’t feel like training. My father told me that it doesn’t matter. Whatever happened, happened. But you should focus on yourself. If you don’t pay attention, your mother’s soul will not rest in peace. So I started looking at the same thing.

“As soon as I started, I had a pain in my shoulder in the next session. So I did an MRI. In that MRI, I found out that it was a Grade 1 tear. We still had a lot of time to rehab it. So my doctor, Swapnil, Lakshya, my strength and condition coach, and I all met and talked for two or three hours. We discussed what to do next. We also missed four or five sessions. And the day we started, we started with taping. And I did the taping yesterday as well. Because we couldn’t take the risk,” he stated.

The injury required him to modify his preparation, with the athlete and his support team carefully managing his workload before travelling for the competition. Hooda explained that his throws had remained consistent before the injury, but the shoulder discomfort made a return to his previous distances uncertain.

“Before the injury, we had a session before my mother’s death on August 8. We had a session after that. We had a session for 62, 61, just like normal. So, after that, when there was pain in the shoulder, we didn’t think that the throw would reach 64 or 65. But we missed the session. We missed three or four sessions. My shoulder was tapped before the session, and we practised. We had a session on the 9th, on Friday, before the Asian Games. So, we had an all-out throw session on our ground and had a session of 61, 62 metres,” Hooda said.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his fitness, Hooda entered the competition determined to give himself the best possible chance of winning. His team had planned to secure a strong mark early because they were unsure how his shoulder would hold up across all six attempts.

“I wanted to take my bets out on the first throw itself. My injury was completely cured, so I wanted to get my best throws in the initial two attempts. We had made a plan beforehand. That if we do it, we will do it in the first or second throw because we didn’t know whether we’d manage to get to the sixth attempt or not. So this was the plan. But I didn’t talk to Ajeet much before the throws. We were on the ground, we greeted each other and said, let’s do it,” Hooda recalled.

The contest ultimately came down to the final round. Ajeet registered 65.02m in his fourth attempt, leaving Hooda needing a bigger throw to move into the lead. The Haryana athlete responded with 65.11m on his last attempt, taking the gold in a competition where Indonesia's R.Saktyono finished third with 55.30m.

Hooda said he never abandoned the belief that he could win, pointing to a pattern of producing his best throws late in major competitions.

“No, I didn’t lose that hope. I never lose hope. I never lose hope. I always try to put all my energy into the last throw. I did the same thing in the last Asian Games. In the 2022 Asian Games, I threw the last throw of 67 metres. And the same thing happened in the World Championships in Paris. So, I don’t know whether it’s my body that takes time to warm up or what it is, but my best throws come on the last attempt in most of the competitions,” he said.

Beyond his own performance, Hooda highlighted the need for more financial and institutional assistance for younger athletes entering para-sports. While acknowledging the support available to established competitors, he said newcomers needed greater backing to build sustainable careers.

“The senior players have sponsorships and jobs. There is a backup in every way. But the junior players who are playing for the first time, they need more support. They need more sponsorships and help from TOPS. The federation is always backing them; there’s no doubt about it. But our new junior players should be supported more.”

Hooda plans to take a break of one or two months before resuming his preparations. Although he has not set an immediate performance target following his Asian Para Games triumph, he remains focused on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.

“There is no target right now as such. We will rest for a month or two. Our main focus is one thing that we want to achieve - and that is the Olympics. Whatever competition there is, we want to play as we did in this game. But our plan will always be for the LA 2028 Olympics. Whether we do it or not, that will always be the main focus,” he concluded.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Preethi Pal clinched a silver medal in the Women's 200m T35 event at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium during the ongoing Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday.

Preeti clocked a time of 29.53s to finish second behind China's Xia Zhou, who won the gold medal with a time of 28.03s.

Preeti, who won two bronze medals in the Paris Paralympics, was, however, not very pleased with the silver as she wanted to bag the gold medal. "I don't feel good. I thought I would get gold," she said after winning her first Asian Para Games medal.

Preethi had a lead for most of the race, but the Chinese surpassed her in the final few moments to win the gold. Preethi said she had hoped to time 28 seconds, but her body was not feeling good today.

"I was leading the Chinese till 150m, but I got de-escalated in the end. My body isn't well; I thought I would clock 28 seconds on the ground and that was the mark at which the gold medal was won. The last 30 meters did not go well. Maybe the gold medal is destined for the Paralympics; let's hope for that," she added.

Meanwhile, Preethi will also be participating in the 100m sprint. "Anyway, tomorrow is the 100m race. Let's focus on that," she said.

Preethi is a decorated Indian para athlete. She has won two bronze medals in the Paralympics. She has a silver and three bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, along with four gold medals at the Indian Open tournaments. She has also won a gold in the New Delhi Grand Prix.

Preethi faced significant physical challenges when she was born. Her lower body was plastered six Days after birth. She started wearing callipers at the age of five for eight years. She has been a proven fighter and has overcome life-threatening conditions and emerged victorious.

Preeti's perspective began to shift when she watched the Paralympic Games on social media. A significant change came when she met Paralympic athlete Fatima Khatoon, who introduced her to para athletics, and she now continues to win laurels in the biggest events.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 20 (SocialNews.XYZ) India clinched a double podium finish in the women's 200m T12 category, with Paralympic medallist Simran Sharma winning gold and debutant Tejalben Damor bagging bronze on Tuesday.

Simran set a new Games record with 24.80 seconds to secure a podium spot, finishing ahead of Iran’s Hajjar Safarzadeh, who recorded 25.02 seconds.

Simran, a Paris Paralympic 2024 bronze medallist in the T12 category and a world champion in the 100m, improved from silver in Hangzhou 2022 (26.12 seconds) to gold in 2026, improving her time by 1.32 seconds.

Tejalben, a visually impaired T12 para-athlete from Gujarat, also delivered a commendable performance, securing third place with a time of 25.23 seconds and achieving a personal best (PB).

Simran's career features a Paralympic bronze medal in the 200m T12 event and a 4th-place finish in the 100m T12 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, alongside two silver medals at the Asian Para Games (2022/2023).

She has also delivered stellar performances on the world stage, winning multiple medals at the World Para Athletics Championships—including gold and silver in 2021, gold in 2019, gold in 2024, and both a gold (100m T12) and a silver (200m T12) in 2025.

On the other hand, Tejalben began her para-sports journey in 2022, and she has steadily progressed through dedication and hard work, specialising in sprint events and earning recognition for her performances on the track.

Her commitment to athletics has brought her significant success, including a gold medal in the Women’s 200m T12 at the Dubai Para Athletics Grand Prix in September 2026, where she clocked an impressive 25.47 seconds.

Earlier, India bagged a double podium finish in the Men’s Javelin Throw F53 with Pradeep Kumar winning silver and Ayush Verma securing bronze at the Asian Para Games here on Tuesday.

Pradeep, competing in the F54 category, produced a personal best of 27.45m on his final attempt to clinch silver. In contrast, Ayush, competing in the F53 category, recorded his personal best of 17.88m in his fifth throw to claim bronze, earning enough Raza points to secure his position despite the shorter distance.

This is Pradeep's second silver in men's javelin at the F54 Asian Para Games, after winning silver in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China. He also won the gold medal at the National Para Athletics Championships in 2026.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Deepthi Jeevanji won the gold medal in the Women’s 400m T20 category of para athletics with a timing of 56.36 seconds, setting a new Games record here on Tuesday.

Deepthi successfully defended her gold medal, improving her timing from 56.59 seconds in 2022 to 56.36 seconds in 2026 — an improvement of 0.23 seconds.

The 23-year-old from Telangana is a two-time Para World Championships medallist, having won the gold in 2024. She is also a Paralympic bronze winner in the same event.

Deepthi has made a remarkable impact on the world of para athletics. Despite facing challenges due to her intellectual impairment. At the age of 15, Deepthi was first spotted by N Ramesh, a coach from the Sports Authority of India (SAI), during a state-level athletics meet.

Recognising her potential, Ramesh took her under his wing and began training her. Her journey in para athletics began with her participation in the Asian Youth Championships held in Hong Kong in 2019, where she won a bronze medal. Despite her intellectual impairment, which makes it difficult for her to express her feelings like other girls of her age, Jeevanji remained determined to excel in her sport.

Deppthi continued to train diligently and participated in various events organised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) between 2019 and 2022. Her hard work paid off when she won a gold medal in both the 100m and 200m events at the Khelo India Youth Games 2020 in Guwahati.

Deepthi's success continued at the National Junior and Youth Championships, where she won multiple medals. Her achievements earned her the status of a Khelo India Athlete.

Her most significant achievement came at the Asian Para Games 2023, where she created history by breaking the Games Record and Asian Record followed by a World Record of 55.07s registered at World Championship 2024.

Her exceptional perfomance earned her a gold medal, cementing her place as a rising star in the world of para athletics.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised para-athlete Nishad Kumar for his versatility, determination and sporting excellence after he won a gold medal in the men's long jump T47 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, and said he was "very proud" of him.

Winning a gold medal on his debut in the Asian Para Games makes the achievement even more special, the Prime Minister said in a post made by the PMO India on Monday.

Nishad Kumar added an unexpected gold medal to his impressive para-athletics career, winning the men’s T47 long jump at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday with a best effort of 7.11 m. The two-time Paralympic silver medallist delivered a commanding performance at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to secure India’s second gold of the Games.

"Very proud of Nishad Kumar on winning Gold in the Men’s Long Jump T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an outstanding jump. Winning a Gold on his debut in this event makes the achievement even more special. His versatility, determination and sporting excellence are truly inspiring. Wishing him the very best for the endeavours ahead," PM Modi was quoted as saying in a post by PMO India.

Known primarily for his achievements in the high jump, Nishad made an emphatic statement in a discipline that remains secondary to his speciality. His winning distance proved beyond the reach of the competition, with the Indian recording 7.11m twice during the final to establish his superiority.

Nishad opened with a jump of 6.95m before moving into the lead with 7.09m in his second attempt. He then stretched his advantage with a 7.11 m effort in the third round, followed by a foul in his fourth attempt. The Indian bounced back in the fifth round to match his best distance before closing his campaign with 7.07m.

Uzbekistan’s Omadbek Khasanov mounted the closest challenge, producing a season-best 6.99m to claim silver. Sri Lanka’s Mohammadu Safran completed the podium with a best jump of 6.55m.

The triumph is particularly notable given Nishad’s relatively recent entry into long jump competitions. The Indian began exploring the event last year and arrived in Japan with limited competitive experience in the discipline. His performance in Aichi-Nagoya underlined his versatility and ability to translate his athletic qualities into another event.

Nishad’s established reputation, however, rests on his achievements in the men’s T47 high jump. He won silver at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and has also claimed a world championship gold in the discipline. At the Asian Para Games, he is the defending champion in the high jump, making him one of India’s key medal prospects in the event.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Ravi K. Budigina on winning the silver medal in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, praising his achievement for bringing pride to the country.

In her message on X, the President wrote: “I extend my warmest congratulations to Ravi K. Budigina on winning the Silver Medal in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S13 at the Asian Para Games 2026. Representing Bharat on this international stage, you have given the nation a moment to cherish. May your achievement inspire aspiring swimmers to take the plunge, pursue their ambitions with conviction.”

The President also congratulated Radha Venkatesh on winning silver in the women’s 1500m T12/13 event, expressing hope that the achievement would encourage her to continue pursuing her sporting aspirations with confidence and bring further opportunities to excel on the track.

“I extend my heartiest congratulations to Radha Venkatesh on winning the Silver Medal in the Women’s 1500m T12/13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. May this achievement encourage you to continue pursuing your sporting aspirations with confidence, and may the road ahead bring you many more opportunities to excel on the track,” she said.

President Murmu extended her warmest congratulations to Soumya on winning gold in the same event and achieving a personal best, describing the triumph as a special accomplishment.

“My warmest congratulations to Soumya on winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s 1500m T12/13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 and achieving a personal best. In a race where every second counts, this is a particularly special accomplishment. May your golden triumph be a cherished milestone, celebrating both your personal best and the honour of representing Bharat on the continental stage,” the President wrote in a post on X.

In the men’s javelin throw F46 event, President Murmu congratulated silver medallist Ajeet Singh and gold medallist Rinku for their performances.

“I extend my warm congratulations to Ajeet Singh on winning the Silver Medal in the Men’s Javelin F46 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. May this achievement give fresh momentum to your sporting journey. I wish you the very best as you continue to pursue your ambitions and reach for new heights,” she said.

Congratulating Rinku on his gold medal, the President said his performance had brought immense pride to the country and could inspire aspiring javelin throwers.

“My warmest congratulations to Rinku on winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s Javelin F46 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. Your throw has carried the Indian Tricolour to the top of the podium and brought immense pride to Bharat. May your achievement inspire aspiring javelin throwers to aim farther,” she wrote.

President Murmu also congratulated Nishad Kumar on winning gold in the men’s long jump T47 event, highlighting his versatility and willingness to take on new challenges.

“My warmest wishes to Nishad Kumar on winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s Long Jump T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026. Your remarkable success in Men’s Long Jump highlights your versatility as a sportsperson and your willingness to take on new challenges. May your achievement encourage others to step beyond familiar boundaries and explore their potential,” the President said.

In para-judo, the President congratulated Kokila on winning silver in the women’s Judo J2 -52kg category, saying her achievement could encourage more young people to take up the sport.

“From the judo mat to the medal podium, Kokila has given Bharat another reason to celebrate. My heartiest congratulations to you on winning the Silver Medal in the Women’s Judo J2 -52kg category at the Asian Para Games 2026. Your achievement will encourage more young people to explore judo and pursue their sporting aspirations,” she said.

President Murmu also extended her congratulations to Kapil Parmar on winning bronze in para judo, wishing him continued success in his sporting journey. “My warmest congratulations to Kapil Parmar on winning the Bronze Medal in Para Judo at the Asian Para Games 2026. May this success inspire you to continue striving for excellence and reach even greater heights in your sporting journey,” the President said.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's Rakshita Raju was disqualified from her bronze medal-winning position in the Women's 1500m T11 due to TR6.9 as another Indian, Ravanni Valasanani, was promoted to third place at the ongoing Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Monday.

Rakshita (Guide Tabres Khan) had initially finished third in the race with a time of 5:31.45s, while Ravanni (Guide Rahul Balakrishna) was fourth, having clocked 5:41.85s.

However, Rakshita was disqualified due to TR6.9, which means non-compliance in relation to clothing, shoes & bibs. This saw Ravanni get promoted and take the bronze.

Ahead of her, China's He Shanshan (Guide Zheng Canran) won the gold with a time of 4:41.19s, while her compatriot Huang Zengli (Guide You Junjie) won the silver with a time of 4:55.54s.

A little earlier, India's Soumya and Radha Venaktesh won gold and silver medals, respectively, in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 final. Soumya (with guide Bharath Kumar) took the top prize with a time of 5:12.39s (621 Raza points), while Radha (with guide Govind Solanki) won the silver with a time of 5:30.90s (421 Raza points).

Behind them, Japan's Mana Sasaki (T13) won bronze. Although she clocked 5:12.15s, she accumulated 336 Raza points and took the bronze.

The Raza point system is a mathematical way to compare and rank athletes from different disabilities on a fair and level playing field.

India now have six medals in para-athletics at the ongoing Asiad as Rinku and Ajeet Singh bagged a gold and a bronze, respectively, in the Men's Javelin F46 category. Rinku clinched the gold medal with an impressive throw of 65.11 metres, showcasing exceptional strength, precision, and consistency.

Ajeet Singh secured the silver medal with a remarkable throw of 65.02 metres, finishing just 9 centimetres behind his compatriot. His outstanding performance highlighted his determination, competitive spirit, and excellence in para-athletics.

Earlier, Nishad Kumar also bagged a gold in the long jump event on debut as he registered a best effort of 7.11m.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) India delivered an outstanding performance in the Men’s Javelin Throw F46 event, with Rinku and Ajeet Singh securing the top two positions and bringing glory to the nation.

Rinku clinched the gold medal with an impressive throw of 65.11 metres, showcasing exceptional strength, precision, and consistency.

Ajeet Singh secured the silver medal with a remarkable throw of 65.02 metres, finishing just 9 centimetres behind his compatriot. His outstanding performance highlighted his determination, competitive spirit, and excellence in para-athletics.

The duo’s remarkable achievement resulted in a proud one-two finish for India, underlining the country’s growing prominence in para-athletics on the international stage.

Saktyono R. of Indonesia secured the bronze medal with a throw of 55.30 metres.

Earlier, Asian Championship silver medallist Kokila (TOPS athlete | WR-3) lost to Kyrgyzstan’s Aibike Ulanbek Kyzy (WR-2), the 2026 World Championship silver medallist and 2025 Asian Championship gold medallist, by Ippon in 21 seconds to settle for the silver medal.

Kokila had previously won a bronze medal at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Women's J2 -48Kg. For the LA 2028 cycle, the weight categories have been changed, and Kokila now competes in -52kg.

Earlier, Soumya and Radha Venaktesh added more medals to the tally with their stellar outings in para-athletics at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, on Monday.

Soumya (with guide Bharath Kumar) clinched a gold in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 final, while Radha (with guide Govind Solanki) won the silver in the same event. Soumya (T12 athlete) took the top prize with a time of 5:12.39s (621 Raza points), while Radha (T12 athlete) came second with a time of 5:30.90s (421 Raza points). Behind them, Japan's Mana Sasaki (T13) won the bronze medal. Although Sasaki clocked 5:12.15s, she accumulated 336 Raza points and took the bronze.

Soumya is a Karnataka-based athlete. Before the Asian Para Games, she won the gold medals in the Asian Youth Para Games (2025), New Delhi Grand Prix (2026) and the Indian Open (2026).

Radha is also a Karnataka-based athlete. She won the gold medal in the 2023 Asian Para Games too, and a silver and a bronze in the 2018 Asian Para Games.

Source: IANS

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Nagoya, Oct 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's medal tally kept rising at the Asian Para Games as Soumya, Radha Venaktesh and Rakshita Raju added more medals with stellar outings in para-athletics at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, on Monday.

Soumya (with guide Bharath Kumar) clinched a gold in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 final, while Radha (with guide Govind Solanki) won the silver in the same event. Soumya (T12 athlete) took the top prize with a time of 5:12.39s (621 Raza points), while Radha (T12 athlete) came second with a time of 5:30.90s (421 Raza points). Behind them, Japan's Mana Sasaki (T13) won the bronze medal. Although Sasaki clocked 5:12.15s, she accumulated 336 Raza points and took the bronze.

The Raza point system is a mathematical way to compare and rank athletes with different disabilities on a fair and level playing field.

In a separate event- the Women's 1500m T11 final- India's Rakshita (with Guide Tabres Khan) won a bronze medal after finishing third with a time of 5:31.45. China's He Shanshan (Guide Zheng Canran) won gold with a time of 4:41.19, while her compatriot Huang Zengli (Guide You Junjie) won silver with a time of 4:55.54.

Another Indian, Ravanni Valasanaini (Guide Rahul Balakrishna), was also in the field. However, she finished fourth with a time of 5:41.85 and missed out on a medal.

Soumya is a Karnataka-based athlete. Before the Asian Para Games, she won the gold medals in the Asian Youth Para Games (2025), New Delhi Grand Prix (2026), and the Indian Open (2026).

Radha is also a Karnataka-based athlete. She won the gold medal in the 2023 Asian Para Games too, and a silver and a bronze in the 2018 Asian Para Games.

Radha also has a gold and a silver at the Sharjah Open 2023, a bronze in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, gold medals in the 4th and 5th Indian Opens, and two silver medals in the 7th and 8th Indian Opens.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Kenya's Charles Matata shattered the men’s course record to win the elite race at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2026 on Sunday, clocking 58:52 to finish one second faster than the previous mark. Ethiopia’s Wudinesh Alemu claimed the women’s elite title in 1:06:35 as nearly 40,000 runners took to the streets of the national capital for the World Athletics Gold Label event.

Matata’s performance also marked a personal best, underlining his dominant run in the men’s race. Fellow Kenyans Samwel Nyamai Mailu and Stanley Waithaka Mburu finished second and third, respectively, to complete an all-Kenyan podium.

In the women’s elite category, Alemu secured the top spot ahead of compatriot Selah Businei, while Kenya’s Cynthia Chelangat Chepkwony finished third.

India’s Shailesh Kushwaha and Ankita Dhyani emerged as the winners in the men’s and women’s Indian elite categories, respectively.

The races were flagged off by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, along with Arun Misra, CEO of Vedanta Group. Vice Admiral Atul Anand was also present at the event. The dignitaries flagged off various categories, including the elite and mass-participation half marathons, Police Cup, Champions with Disability, Senior Citizens Run, Open 10K and Great Delhi Run.

Boxing legend Mary Kom, badminton Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat and tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi also lent their support to the event, which brought together elite competitors and recreational runners in a celebration of sporting excellence and participation.

Beyond the racing action, the 2026 edition continued the event’s association with the #RunForZeroHunger initiative. Participants collectively contributed 50 lakh meals this year, taking the cumulative impact of the campaign to more than 2.7 crore meals across five editions and marking five years of Vedanta’s association with the Delhi Half Marathon.

Commenting on the occasion, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta, and Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Ltd., said, “With 40,000 runners taking to the streets, the Delhi Half Marathon celebrated sporting excellence, personal determination and the power of collective action. From elite athletes to first-time runners, every participant demonstrated how sport can inspire us to go further for ourselves and others.”

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese, a two-time winner of the Delhi Half Marathon, will be among the favourites for the 21st running of the World Athletics Gold Label Race scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Legese is aiming to reclaim the title and secure his third victory at the event.

On Friday, he, along with some of the world’s leading international distance runners, expressed confidence, outlined their preparations and shared their ambitions at the pre-race press conference for the 21st Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon.

The 2026 edition will offer a total prize purse of USD 275,732, with the men's and women's winners each receiving USD 27,000. An additional event-record bonus of USD 12,000 will be awarded to any athlete who breaks the course record.

Ethiopia's Legese said he is in good shape and confident of winning on Sunday. “I am in good shape and have trained well, and we will see on Sunday. I like Delhi; it is almost like a second home. I have come here many times, and I like the people and the organisers,” he said.

Reflecting on his preparations, Legese added that he had been training in Kaptagat with Eliud Kipchoge, citing the traffic and other challenges in Addis Ababa. Despite missing the podium last year, he said he remained hungry and motivated, with a clear goal in mind.

Kenya's Charles Matata, who works with the Kenyan police, is also confident of challenging for the title. Earlier this year, he won the Riga Half Marathon in Latvia in 59:15.

“I personally love half marathons. I am also good at speed work, and I believe my consistency comes from training with strong teams. We always approach races with a winning mentality, and that mindset has helped me consistently finish among the top two in most of my half marathons,” he said.

Matata's compatriot Irine Cheptai, the 2022 Delhi champion, has enjoyed a strong season, winning the Dubai Half Marathon in February before finishing second at the Sydney Marathon in August. However, she is still recovering from the marathon.

“After the Sydney Marathon, I decided to take a two-week break before returning to training. I am still recovering, and I wouldn't say I am in top shape at the moment, but I will do my best on Sunday. India feels like my second home, and I am always happy to come here and compete,” said Cheptai, who is affectionately known as the ‘Queen of India’ in Kenya.

Another major contender in the women's field is Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, the Kenyan-born Israeli athlete who won a bronze medal in the marathon at the World Championships four years ago. Proud to represent Israel, Salpeter has spent much of her training time in Iten, Kenya. She will be making her first visit to India as she continues her return from a hamstring injury sustained in May.

“I am proud to represent Israel. People there have embraced me and are always proud of me. This is my first visit to India, and I am looking forward to Sunday, although I am still coming back from an injury. I will see how things go on race day,” she said.

Indian elite runners look to raise the bar

The Indian elite field will feature the likes of last year’s runners-up Kiran Matre, 2024 Indian Elite Women's champion Lily Das, rising distance runner Ankita Dhyani and Dr. Kartik Karkera, all looking to deliver strong performances on home soil.

Matre, who clocked a personal best of 1:04:57 last year, will be looking to build on his second-place finish despite recovering from a hip injury that disrupted his preparations earlier this year. “My preparation is good, and I am looking forward to the race. I will definitely try to achieve my best timing,” he said.

Das, who won the Indian Elite Women's title in 2024, finished fourth last year in 1:16:27 despite improving her previous years' time by two minutes. With the women's field growing increasingly competitive, she sees Dhyani as a strong rival.

“I think it's getting very competitive. I improved my 2024 time by two minutes last year and still missed the podium. Ankita is a fierce competitor, and hopefully, we can push each other to deliver a strong finish,” she said.

Dhyani, who brings a strong track-running background to the roads, made her half marathon debut at the event last year and finished fifth among Indian elite women in 1:17:52. “My experience is less, but I will be smart in the race. I am hoping to do my best,” she said.

Dr. Karkera has made steady progress at the event, finishing last among the Indian elite athletes on his debut before placing 10th in 2024 and third in 2025. Having made his international debut representing India at the Asian Games earlier this year, he is looking to build on that progress.

“I feel like I'm on the right track. I try to focus on consistent progression over perfection. I still feel the half marathon is one of my favourite distances,” he said.

The top three finishers in the Indian Elite Men’s and Women’s categories will receive prize money of INR 3,50,000, INR 2,50,000 and INR 1,50,000, respectively. An additional INR 1,00,000 incentive is also up for grabs for setting a new Indian Elite record at the marquee event.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two-time Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo, the International Event Ambassador for the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon (VDHM) 2026, has set her sights on the women’s 400m world record as she prepares for Los Angeles 2028.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s 21st edition of the World Athletics Gold Label Road Race in New Delhi, where she will be present to cheer on and support the participants, Shaunae Miller-Uibo said, “I have won every title there is in the 400m, so for me it is now about setting new goals. I would love to give the world record a crack. In recent years we have seen women go under 48 seconds, and I believe I am more than capable of doing that as well. If we keep racing each other, I think we can push each other towards it."

On her first visit to India, Miller-Uibo also spoke about what the Delhi Half Marathon means and why she is looking forward to supporting the runners on Sunday. “I am really looking forward to it. It is bigger than just running. It is a great community, and people can pledge their support for different causes. It brings everyone out and unites people here in India. I am also excited to hear that there are more participants this year, and especially more women. I hope this year’s race inspires even more women to come out next year and take that first step towards whatever their dreams and goals might be.”

Miller-Uibo welcomed her son in 2023 and her daughter in 2025, and has spent this season rebuilding her speed in the Bahamian capital, Nassau, under her father’s coaching.

“Coming back from two pregnancies, I had to give myself a lot of patience. I wanted to jump straight back in where I left off, but there was a lot of building to do again. This season showed me that the speed is back, and I am really looking forward to getting back into the 400m. Having my kids there has given me a different purpose in the sport. I get to show them what mummy does, and hopefully inspire them,” she said.

Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, she added, “For LA, I am only going to do one event, and we are not sure which one yet. I have always wanted an Olympic medal in the 200m, but at the same time, no one has ever won three in the 400m. So we will play with both and make that decision.”

With over 41,000 participants set to take part in the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, Miller-Uibo appreciated the determination of long-distance runners. "The half marathon takes a lot of guts and a really strong mentality. Everyone who runs it is challenging themselves beyond how fast they can go, and kudos to all of them,” she said, revealing that a marathon is on her own long-term list for when she hangs up her spikes.

Addressing the Indian athletes, Miller-Uibo added, “Just know that it takes time. Injuries and setbacks come with the territory, but sometimes a setback is exactly what puts you in position for a great comeback. Keep working hard, have fun with it, and believe in yourself and in all the training you have done to go out there and accomplish your dreams.”

Miller-Uibo won the Olympic 400m gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. She is only the second woman, after France’s Marie-José Pérec, to defend the title, and she added the world crown in Eugene in 2022.

The 21st edition of the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon, promoted by Procam International, will start from the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, Oct 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) As the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon prepares to celebrate its 10th edition on November 29 this year, 25 runners stand out for a remarkable distinction: they have participated in every edition since the event began in 2017.

From a family tradition shaped by loss to a life-changing journey toward better health and a test of personal discipline, their stories show how the annual race has become more than a sporting event for those who return year after year.

The marathon, which drew more than 24,000 participants in 2025, has grown significantly since its early editions. Yet for this group of 25, the connection goes beyond the event's growing scale. Work commitments, family responsibilities and personal challenges have not stopped them from returning to the starting line.

For freelance content writer Shini Nair, who divides her time between Ahmedabad and Singapore, the journey began without any particular ambition to become a runner. Her husband had registered her and their young son for the inaugural edition’s 5K, intending it as a family outing. What began spontaneously soon became an annual tradition.

That tradition took on a different meaning in 2022, when Shini lost her son in a bike accident. Their final race together had been the 10K, the distance she has continued to run at every edition since.

“It’s the one race I will never miss,” she said. “We started this together as a family, on a whim really, and it turned into something we did every year without fail. After I lost him, running the 10K became less about the distance and more about staying close to that memory. My running has been on and off since then; some years I train properly, some years I barely run at all, but this event is different. Regardless of my conditioning at the time before the race, I always show up. In 2024 I was down with severe diarrhoea and couldn’t even keep water down on race day, but I still finished. Skipping it was never really an option in my head.”

For Shini, participation is no longer measured by preparation or performance. Returning to the same distance each year has become a way of preserving a bond that began with a family decision and endured through unimaginable grief.

Gopinath Dhandapani’s association with running, meanwhile, began with a deeply personal reckoning with health. Fourteen years ago, weighing 90 kilograms and wearing 40-inch trousers, he watched his father die from a heart attack complicated by diabetes. With his mother’s health deteriorating and his siblings beginning to develop diabetes, he decided to change his lifestyle, turning to running as a means of taking control of his own well-being.

Over time, that decision developed into a commitment to helping others. Gopinath works as Head of Sales while also serving as a certified running coach, mentoring more than 200 members of the River Front Runners group. Across 14 years, he has covered more than 40,000 km, completed over 600 half marathons and officially paced more than 30 races.

One of the five inaugural ambassadors of the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon in 2017, he has watched the event evolve alongside his own running journey.

“When I look back at where I started, unhealthy, overweight, watching my own family struggle with the same illnesses that took my father, running feels like it saved me,” he said. “Once I felt what it did for me, I wanted other people to feel it too; that’s really why I started coaching. This marathon has been part of that journey from the very beginning; I’ve watched it grow from a small local race into something the whole city plans its year around. I keep coming back because a part of the registration fee goes to the Army, and I have friends who’ve served and told me what that life actually costs them. Running this race every year is the least I can do to say thank you for that.”

His story brings together personal transformation, community building and the marathon’s wider purpose. For Gopinath, the event offers an opportunity not only to celebrate the benefits of running but also to support a cause that holds personal significance.

For Aan Godiawala, a manager at Deloitte, running became a defining test of consistency after years of staying fit through football and gym workouts. In 2023, he challenged himself to run every day for 365 consecutive days, maintaining the streak through business travel, weddings, festivals and other competing demands.

“There were days I really didn’t want to run,” he said. “Frequent work trips, weddings, vacations, festivals, even the rain- none of it could become an excuse once I’d committed to the streak. It stopped being about the run itself pretty quickly and became a test of whether I could stay disciplined when nothing about the day made it convenient. That mindset has stuck with me since, at work and outside it.”

The year-long challenge eventually led Aan to complete his first full marathon in 2024. He also pursued a certified marathon trainer course to understand better the science behind the physical demands he had placed on himself.

His association with the Ahmedabad event, however, predates that transformation. The inaugural edition marked his first half marathon, which he ran because his father had been a lifelong runner. Returning each year has since become a way to reconnect with the city, the running community, and the beginnings of his own journey.

“Coming back to this race every year feels like a reunion, with the city, with the running community, and honestly with the version of myself that started this journey,” he added.

The experiences of Shini, Gopinath and Aan illustrate the different meanings a single sporting event can hold. For one, it preserves a deeply personal memory; for another, it represents a commitment to health and service; and for the third, it is a reminder of the discipline that first drew him into long-distance running.

As part of the 10th edition celebrations, Adani Sportsline will felicitate all 25 runners who have completed every edition of the marathon to date on November 29, 2026.

The event’s #Run4OurSoldiers initiative, through which a share of registration proceeds supports the welfare of India’s armed forces, remains an important part of its identity. More than 3,000 defence personnel participated in the marathon last year, underlining its connection with the military community.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) The World Athletics Gold Label Road Race Delhi Half Marathon will have 41,000+ participants across on-ground and virtual categories ahead of the 2026 race on Sunday (October 18) in New Delhi.

The organisers on Wednesday outlined the arrangements for the 41,000+ participants.

Runners are the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon’s biggest stakeholders, and the organisers remain committed to ensuring a seamless, safe and comfortable race experience for every participant. Comprehensive safety and support measures will be in place along the route and at the finish line to safeguard runners’ well-being, it was informed in a release on Wednesday.

As race day approaches, planning, infrastructure assessments and coordination with the relevant authorities continue across all aspects of the event. The focus remains on ensuring a safe, well-coordinated and seamless experience for runners and stakeholders.

As part of the final preparations, minor refinements are being made to the Half Marathon route. The Open 10K is also scheduled to start from Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 7:35 am, with a revised route, instead of starting from Sansad Marg.

Vivek Singh, Joint Managing Director, Procam International, said, “The Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon has grown into an event with a significant impact beyond sport. A socio-economic impact study conducted by Miranda House estimated the event’s socio-economic impact on Delhi-NCR at over ₹400 crore. Participants travel from across the country, often arriving several days before race day and staying with family or friends. Their presence contributes to local businesses, hospitality and retail, demonstrating how a sporting event can create value for the wider community.”

“Delhi Police is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of every runner at the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon 2026. We have been working closely with the organisers over the past one-and-a-half months to prepare for race day. Our deployment will include around 200 police personnel, along with 70–80 traffic police personnel, to ensure smooth movement and security along the route," said Madhurendra Kumar, Traffic Inspector, Defence Colony, Delhi Police.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Indian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar has undergone ankle surgery in London after damaging his ligaments in a take-off board slip during the men’s long jump final at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya on September 28.

The 27-year-old confirmed the procedure in an Instagram post on Wednesday, October 14, saying the surgery was necessary to stabilise his right ankle ahead of the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“As much as I didn’t want to go through all this, I didn’t have a choice this time either. I underwent a minor ankle surgery yesterday at Fortius Clinic London, under the care of Dr. Pieter D’Hooghe. Courtesy of the slip off the takeoff board during the Asian Games, I injured my ligaments,” Sreeshankar wrote while sharing pictures with his doctor and coach.

"After further consultations and investigations, surgery was deemed necessary to ensure that my ankle is stable and ready for the upcoming season, with the World Championships 2027 in Beijing and, most importantly, LA 2028," he added.

Sreeshankar’s latest setback comes after he had initially hoped to manage the injury through rest and rehabilitation. The incident occurred on a rain-soaked track during the Asian Games final, when he slipped while preparing for his fourth attempt and twisted his right ankle.

Unable to complete his final two jumps, he nevertheless secured the silver medal with his second-round effort of 8.07m. China’s Shi Yuhao claimed gold with 8.17m, while Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov took bronze with 8.06m.

The decision to operate followed further medical consultations and investigations. Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi had announced on Monday that the central government would bear the full cost of Sreeshankar’s surgery, treatment and rehabilitation, ensuring access to specialist care as he works towards his return to competition.

Beyond the physical setback, the repeated interruptions to his career have also weighed on the Indian athlete. Addressing questions about his recurring injuries, Sreeshankar acknowledged that he had no definitive explanation but said his focus remained on moving forward rather than dwelling on the circumstances.

“Some of you might be wondering why this guy keeps getting injured again and again. Tbh, I don’t have an answer to that. I could simply blame it on the wet takeoff board or perhaps my fate, but neither is going to help me. I’d rather accept what has happened and keep working towards becoming the best version of myself,” he added.

Despite the latest setback, the long jumper struck a determined note, invoking the mentality that he believes will carry him through another rehabilitation process. “But one thing I know for sure is that I have that extra comeback gene and the Mamba Mentality in me. That will do the job.”

Sreeshankar also acknowledged the institutions supporting his treatment, expressing gratitude to the Sports Authority of India’s TOPS scheme, the Athletics Federation of India and the Reliance Foundation for Youth Sports.

“Sincere gratitude to SAI-TOPS @media.iccsai @afiindia_official and @rfyouthsports for ensuring that I received treatment from the best hands in the world. Forever grateful for your support, and I truly mean it,” he stated.

The surgery marks another chapter in Sreeshankar’s efforts to return to the international stage after injury-related interruptions. With the World Championships in Beijing in 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 among his key targets, the immediate priority will be rehabilitation and restoring the stability of his right ankle.

Signing off his update with a message of renewed resolve, he made his intentions clear: “And yeah, here we go again !! Comeback 2.0, to chase down another set of major medals!!, he concluded.

Source: IANS

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Virar, Oct 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) The 13th edition of the national-level Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon, organised by the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation and the Vasai Taluka Kala Kreeda Vikas Mandal, will be held on December 13.

The online registrations for the event will begin on Thursday (October 15), as announced by the newly elected Mayor of the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation, Ajiv Patil.

“I am happy to announce the opening of registrations for the 13th edition of the National Level Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon, to be held on December 13, 2026. The event will continue to provide the best facilities to the participants, besides accommodation and food to all outstation participants,” said the Mayor.

“The Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon has evolved into one of the most sought-after events among runners throughout the country, and the Corporation is committed to providing another wonderful running experience to all the runners who will register for the event,” said the Honourable Municipal Commissioner, Prithviraj B. P (IAS).

Online registration can be done through the event website www.vvmmm.in

The Full Marathon is the flagship event of the Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon. Besides this, the Half Marathon, the 10K Run and 5K Run, all timed events, will feature in the day’s proceedings, followed by the Dhamaal Dhaav, a community event held over 3 km.

The event offers a prize fund of Rs 58 lakh, among the highest in the country, exclusively for Indian athletes, both professionals and amateurs, and attracts the leading long-distance runners in the country. The registration fees for the event are among the lowest in the country, and the Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon is one of the few events that offers free lodging and boarding to all outstation runners.

The event has been recognised as a National Level sports event by the Athletic Federation of India (AFI) and the running course has been measured and ratified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

Races for junior athletes beginning from the age of 10 till 18 will also be held, besides events for senior citizens and differently abled athletes.

Since its inception in 2011, the Vasai-Virar Mayor's Marathon has grown in scale and reputation, regularly drawing over 20,000 participants and gaining media coverage in national sports publications.

Source: IANS

The post 13th Vasai Virar Mayor’s Marathon to be held on December 13 appeared first on Social News XYZ.