The bar was up, and Nishad Kumar didn't just clear it. He obliterated it. With a 2.04m leap in Aichi-Nagoya, the Indian para-athlete claimed his second gold medal in two days, securing the men's high jump T47 title and setting a new Games record.
This isn't just a win; it's a historic milestone. Kumar becomes only the third Indian ever to bag two golds in a single Asian Para Games edition, joining the ranks of Ankur Dhama and Sheetal Devi. Just 24 hours prior, he had already stunned the track by winning the men's long jump T47 with a 7.11m effort, proving his versatility on the global stage.
Modi didn't waste time praising the feat. In a post on social media, the Prime Minister highlighted the significance of Kumar winning gold on his debut in the long jump event, calling his determination "truly inspiring." For an athlete who lost his right arm to a grass-cutting machine at age six in Amb, Himachal Pradesh, these medals are more than metal—they are proof of resilience.
Kumar’s journey from a silver medalist at Paris 2024 to a world championship gold medalist is already rare. Adding a continental double-gold to that resume cements his status as India's standout performer in Aichi-Nagoya. The crowd witnessed not just a high jump, but a statement.
With the double-gold secured, eyes now turn to the remaining contests in Aichi-Nagoya, where Indian athletes are looking to keep the medal tally climbing in the final days of the Games.