India Sweeps High Jump T42/T63 Podium at Asian Para Games

Indian para athletics produced its finest moment of the Asian Para Games 2026 on 22 October 2026, when every place on the podium of one event went to an Indian jumper. The event was the men's high jump in the T42/T63 classification, and the three medals were won by Shailesh Kumar, Varun Singh Bhati and Rahul.

Gold and a Games Record for Shailesh Kumar

Shailesh Kumar finished on top. His winning attempt also produced a new Games Record, which means the height he cleared is the best any athlete has managed in this event in the history of the competition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the effort a magnificent performance and said it showed the jumper's talent, steadiness and hard work, adding that the whole country was proud of the result. A gold that doubles as a record is the detail worth underlining, because question papers almost always pair the two.

Silver for Varun Singh Bhati

The silver medal went to Varun Singh Bhati, among the most familiar names on the Indian para athletics circuit. The Prime Minister said he keeps leaving his mark on the discipline, congratulated him for the jump and wished him well for the events still ahead of him. For revision purposes, Varun Singh Bhati belongs in the same column as the gold medallist, since both competed in the identical classification on the same afternoon.

Bronze for Rahul completes the sweep

The third medal, the bronze, was won by Rahul. The Prime Minister described it as a proud moment and said he hoped the athlete would keep climbing higher in the seasons to come. With that jump India had taken gold, silver and bronze from a single final, a result sometimes described as a clean sweep of the podium.

What aspirants should carry away

Three points decide most questions set on this result. The first is the classification, written as T42/T63, which groups jumpers with comparable limb impairments. The second is the order on the podium: Shailesh Kumar first, Varun Singh Bhati second, Rahul third. The third is the Games Record attached to the gold. A paper setter may also ask simply which country took all three medals in the men's high jump at these Games, and the answer is India.