Praveen Kumar vaulted 2.05m to seize gold, smashing the previous Games record in the men’s high‑jump T44/64 at the Asian Para Games on Wednesday. The 27‑year‑old’s fourth‑attempt clearance left the field scrambling for the top spot.
Banti followed with a personal best of 1.92m to earn silver, while Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov took bronze with 1.86m. The two Indian athletes swept the podium, giving India a clean 1‑2 finish.
The turning point arrived when Praveen, after a shaky first two jumps, broke through on his fourth try. The crowd roared as the bar rose to 2.05m, a height that no one else could match.
Coach Rajesh Kumar praised the jump, saying, "Praveen’s focus and technique were flawless. He carried the team’s hopes with grace." Kumar added that the record will lift India’s profile in global para athletics.
With the Asian Games behind them, the pair now target the World Para Athletics Championships, where they aim to convert their continental dominance into world titles.