Golden Boy Shailesh Kumar Leads India's Clean Sweep in Nagoya

Shailesh Kumar earned the title of golden boy for India after winning gold in the men's high jump T63 final at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Thursday. India also took silver and bronze, making it a complete podium sweep.

Shailesh cleared 1.89 metres to top the field. Varun Bhati finished second with a height of 1.84 metres, and Rahul secured third place with a personal best of 1.81 metres.

This was not the first time India had dominated this event. The country repeated its 2022 success in the men's high jump T42/T63 category. It was also the third time during these Games that India has won all three medals in a single competition. Before this, the team had achieved the feat in the men's discus throw F44/64, led by Devendra Kumar, and in the men's shot put F46 final, led by Sachin Khilari.

Varun Bhati, a para high jumper from Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, has steadily built his reputation over the years. He won bronze at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in the men's high jump T42 with a jump of 1.86 metres. He later took bronze at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships and silver at the 2018 Asian Para Games, where he cleared 1.82 metres.

He most recently won bronze in the men's high jump T63 at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi, with a clearance of 1.85 metres.

India had earlier enjoyed a strong morning in athletics as well. In the women's 400 metres T47, Anjanaben Bambadiya won gold in 59.97 seconds, while Jayanti Behera took silver in 1:00.65. Anjanaben led from the front, with Jayanti close behind.