Ravanni Valasanani snatched the bronze in the women’s 1500m T11 at the Asian Para Games, clocking 5:41.85 after Rakshita Raju’s disqualification.
Rakshita, running with guide Tabres Khan, originally finished third in 5:31.45. But a Technical Rule 6.9 penalty—an unspecified breach of clothing or equipment standards—took her off the podium.
The verdict arrived just after the final lap, casting a sudden chill over the crowd and sparking chants from the Indian bench. Fans cheered as Ravanni’s 5:41.85 time surged into the bronze slot.
China still took the top two spots, with He Shanshan running 4:41.19 for gold and Huang Zengli 4:55.54 for silver. Meanwhile, India added golds in men’s javelin and long jump, signalling a strong overall performance.
Next up, the para sprint squad will hit the track again for the upcoming world championships, eyes on podium finishes.