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Asian Para Games: Canoeist couple propels India to another good day
India picked 17 medals on the second competition day -- same as Monday -- taking the total tally to 34
It was a day to remember for Prachi Yadav who not only became the first Indian to win a para canoe gold but also shared the joy with her husband Manish Kaurav who won a bronze. Prachi won the gold medal in the canoe KL2 event at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday to add to her silver in the VL2 category on Monday while Manish's bronze came in the men's canoe KL3 event.
Led by the canoeing couple, India picked 17 medals on the second competition day -- same as Monday -- taking the total tally to 34. India ended the day in fifth place, one spot down from Monday, behind China (165), Iran (47), Japan (45), and Uzbekistan (38).
The 28-year-old Prachi, who is paralysed waist down, clocked 54.962 to cover the 500m distance and win gold in the KL2 event, meant for athletes who propel themselves with their arms and partial trunk and leg function.
"Prachi told me before my event that we should not go empty-handed from this Asian Para Games. That gave me the energy and confidence. She is the reason for my medal," Manish said.
Neeraj Yadav delivered another big result for India in the men's F54/55/56 discus throw, an event that saw a podium sweep from the Indians.
Yadav led the way with a gold medal that came with a Games and Asian record effort of 38.56m. Yogesh Kathunia and Muthuraja took silver and bronze in the ten-man final. A F55 javelin gold medallist from the 2018 Asian Para Games, Yadav, who is inflicted with polio since birth, moved to discus throw only in 2020.
Deepthi Jeevanji (women's T20 400m) won a gold medal in the women's T20 category 400m race — an event meant for athletes with intellectual impairment — with the Games and Asian record timing of 56.69 seconds while Parmod (silver) and Rakesh Bhaira (bronze) made it an Indian double on the podium in the Men's 1500m T46 Final.
Among other track events, Ajay Kumar won a silver medal in the Men's 400m-T64 category and Simran Sharma finished second in the women's 100m-T12 event.
In para shooting, Rudransh Khandelwal and Manish Narwal bagged a silver and bronze respectively in the P1 men's 10m air pistol SH1 event while Rubina Francis bagged a bronze in the P2 women's 10m air pistol SH1 category.
Ashok (men's 65kg powerlifting), Gajendra Singh (men's VL2 canoe), and Ekta Bhayan (women's F32/51 club throw) all won bronze in their respective events.
India is being represented by 313 athletes at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games, the most in any edition. The country is participating in 17 out of the 22 sports, fielding athletes for the first time in rowing, canoeing, lawn bowls, taekwondo, and blind football.
