Indian sprinter Soumya secured the gold medal while compatriot Radha Venkatesh claimed the silver in a stellar double podium finish for the country in the women’s 1500m T12/T13 final at the Asian Para Games on Monday. Making an impressive debut at the continental event, Soumya set a personal best time to top the combined category and deliver a memorable performance for the national contingent.
- Soumya clocked a personal best of 5:12.39 seconds to capture the gold medal in the combined T12 and T13 event, earning 621 points.
- Radha Venkatesh finished close behind with a timing of 5:30.90 seconds, collecting 421 points to take home the silver medal.
- Radha previously finished first in the same event at the 2022 edition of the Games, though it was staged as a non-medal competition at the time due to a limited field.
- In para powerlifting, Manish Kumar narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the men’s 59kg final, taking fourth place after losing on countback.
Dominant Showing on the Track
Soumya’s triumph highlights the growing depth of talent in Indian para athletics on the international stage. Her tactical execution and sustained pace throughout the race allowed her to pull away from the rest of the field and secure the top step of the podium. Radha’s silver adds further gloss to the campaign, rewarding years of dedication and consistent training in middle-distance running.
Powerlifting Heartbreak and Medal Tally
Away from the running track, India experienced mixed fortunes in strength events. Manish Kumar recorded an impressive lift of 181kg in the men’s 59kg para powerlifting category, matching the mark set by Kazakhstan’s bronze medallist Stanislav Shakiyev. However, Manish had to settle for fourth place as his opponent achieved the weight earlier in the competition. Fellow Indian competitor Paramjeet Kumar placed seventh with a best effort of 167kg. With the latest athletics medals, the country continues to strengthen its position in the overall multi-sport standings.
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