Praveen Kumar cleared 2.05m to win Asian Para Games men's high jump gold, setting a fresh Games record.
Banti took silver with a personal best 1.92m, while Uzbekistan’s Temurbek Giyazov grabbed bronze at 1.86m. Kumar’s jump eclipsed the former Games mark of 1.95m and nudged closer to his 2.08m Paralympic best.
The 2.05m came after months battling a hip ligament tear that had slowed his take‑off, and a viral fever that forced him to vomit and cough between attempts. Yet he pressed on, saying the fever made training a nightmare, but he kept short breaks and kept his eyes on the board.
Speaking after the medal ceremony, Kumar said, “I felt a headache in my first jump, mucus in my throat—yet I kept going because I know the record still waits.” His coach Satyapal Singh noted the athlete’s smooth Fosbury Flop and relentless focus, calling it a masterclass in resilience.
Now, with a gold and a Games record under his belt, Kumar is already mapping out the next chapter: defending his 2024 Paralympic title in Los Angeles. He studies Olympic legend Derek Drouin’s run‑up, hoping to add a step to his approach and push past 2.08m.
The next big test looms on the horizon, as the 2026 Para Athletics World Championships approach, where Kumar will face a new crop of rivals.