Sandeep sets a record in the 400m T64 and Naveen Sivakumar adds badminton gold as India’s tally climbs to 25
India’s medal haul at the Asian Para Games grew on Friday morning with a burst of golds across archery, badminton and athletics.
Paris Paralympic champion Harvinder Singh and debutant Vijay Sundi won the men’s recurve doubles title, beating China’s Yun Duo and Zhao Lixue 5-1. After the opening set was tied at 35, the Indian pair took the next two 37-36 and 38-36 to seal a historic win.
In badminton, Nitesh Kumar beat Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16 in the men’s singles SL3 final, giving India a one-two finish. Naveen Sivakumar took gold in SL4, defeating Indonesia’s Fredy Setiawan 21-9, 21-17 in 36 minutes. On the track, Sandeep won the men’s 400m T64 gold in a record time of 52.28 seconds.
India now has 25 gold, 32 silver and 42 bronze medals.
Harvinder’s journey has been remarkable. He lost the use of his legs after complications from dengue treatment and took up archery after being inspired by the 2012 London Paralympics. He won gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games, India’s first Paralympic archery medal (bronze) in Tokyo, and gold in Paris. He received the Padma Shri in 2025.
Earlier, Bhawna and Pooja won India’s first-ever women’s recurve doubles medal, a silver, after losing to China in the final. Parmod also took silver in the men’s 1500m T46, his second straight Asian Para Games silver in the event
About The Author
