In his very first long jump outing in a major competition, Nishad Kumar won the Asian Para Games gold medal on Monday, October 19. Nishad, well known for being the best para-high jumper in the country, leapt 7.11m to secure his maiden long jump gold medal at the Para Asian Games 2026.

The defending champion in the men's high jump T47 category, Nishad Kumar dominated from the very start of the event, leaping 6.95m in his first attempt. He bettered himself twice in his subsequent jumps, sealing the top position.

No one in the field, bar Uzbekistan's Khasanov Omadbek was able to beat Nishad's opening jump. Omadbek leapt 6.99m in his 5th attempt, but even his season-best jump was not enough to beat Nishad's mark.

Omadbek and Sri Lanka's Mohammadu Safran took home silver and bronze medals in the long jump T47 category respectively.

NISHAD KUMAR BREAKING BARRIERS

The Indian superstar, supported by Adidas, started appearing in long jump competitions only last year. He came into the Para Asian Games 2026 on the back of just one competition in Muscat, where he participated in an able-bodied event and finished fifth among eight participants. He had jumped 7.22m there.

Nishad is a bona fide superstar in the Indian athletics ecosystem and trains in the United States of America. He won the silver medal at the Paris Paralympics in 2024. Nishad often participates in able-bodied competitions in India and, since last year, has started competing in able-bodied events outside the country as well.

On Monday, at the Para Asian Games 2026, Nishad showed how dominant he could be in the field, even though it was his first long jump event at a major competition. His opening leap of 6.95m was enough to put him in the lead, and no other competitor managed to surpass it.

His gold medal was India's second in the competition, after Mona Agarwal's top finish in the women's 10m air rifle SH1 category.

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