Asian Para Games 2026: Suvarna Raj Strikes Gold, Swati wins Silver, Manisha Ramadass and Pramod Bhagat Take Bronze

India added another gold medal to its Asian Para Games campaign on Thursday as Suvarna Raj topped the women's F54 discus throw competition with a best effort of 15.66 metres in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

Her victory marked India's 15th gold medal at the Games and provided an early boost to the country's medal hunt on October 22.

Suvarna's performance stood out for its consistency. Competing against five other athletes, she crossed the 15-metre mark four times in six attempts, with her best throw arriving in the fifth round. That effort proved enough to secure the top position on the podium.

Iran's Shahla Hadidi finished second with 15.45 metres, while Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy claimed bronze with 14.65 metres. Suvarna's victory underlined India's strength in para-athletics as the contingent continued its campaign across multiple disciplines.

Manisha Ramadass and Pramod Bhagat Finish with Bronze

India's para-badminton campaign also produced a podium finish through Manisha Ramadass and Pramod Bhagat, who secured bronze in the mixed doubles SL3-SU5 event.

The Indian pair began their semifinal against Indonesia's Leani Ratri Oktila and Hikmat Ramdani on the front foot, taking the opening game 21-16. However, the Indonesian combination responded strongly, winning the next two games 21-13 and 21-17 to book a place in the final.

Despite missing out on the final, Manisha and Pramod added another medal to India's para-badminton tally. Their result also set up an all-Indian opportunity for gold in the same event, with Thulasimathi Murugesan and Nitesh Kumar scheduled to face the Indonesian pair in the final.

Swati Chaudhary Claims Silver in Women's W1 Archery

India's medal haul on Thursday also included a silver medal for Swati Chaudhary in the women's W1 individual archery event. She pushed China's Mengkan Cen in the final but eventually lost 4-6 after surrendering an early advantage.

Swati had moved into a 4-2 lead after three ends, putting herself within reach of the gold medal. Cen, however, fought back to win the contest and take the title, leaving the Indian archer with silver.