Asian Para Games 2023 Day 2, October 24 Highlights: Prachi Yadav clinches gold in women's canoe, India add 18 more medals to tally

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India showcased its sporting prowess on the opening day of the 4th Asian Para Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, securing a string of remarkable victories across various disciplines. A total of 17 medals including (gold - 6, silver - 6 and bronze - 5) were won today.

Among the sporting events held today, majority of the medals came from athletics. Shailesh and Thangavelu Mariappan started the proceeding with respect to athletics contingent. However, it was Prachi Yadav who won India's first medal at the ongoing edition of Asian Para Games 2023.

Number of medals presented to Indian athletes on 23rd October

In the men's club throw F51 event, Indian athletes made a clean sweep, with Pranav Soorma clinching the gold medal. The 29-year-old Soorma put on a remarkable performance, breaking the Asian Para Games record with a throw of 30.01m. His compatriots Dharambir (28.76m) and Amit Kumar (26.93m) claimed silver and bronze, respectively. Saudi Arabia's Radhi Ali Alharthi, who managed a throw of 23.77m, secured the fourth position.

Pranav Soorma's journey to success is particularly inspiring. Despite suffering a spinal cord injury at the age of 16, he defied the odds and emerged as a champion in para-sports, earning a silver medal at the 2019 Beijing World Para Athletics Grand Prix event.

The F51 club throw event is a test of athleticism for those with severe mobility limitations in the trunk, legs, and hands. Competing while seated, athletes rely on the strength of their shoulders and arms to generate power.

In the men's high jump T63 category, India continued its winning streak, with a podium sweep. Shailesh Kumar secured the gold with a jump of 1.82m, setting an Asian Para Games record. Mariyappan Thangavelu claimed the silver with a jump of 1.80m. Unfortunately, the 'minus one rule' enforced by the Asian Paralympic Committee allowed for gold and silver medals only since there were only three competitors in the event.

Nishad Kumar added another gold to India's medal tally in the men's high jump T47 category, clearing a height of 2.02m. His compatriot, Ram Pal, secured the bronze with a jump of 1.94m. The T47 classification is intended for athletes with below-elbow or wrist amputation or impairment.

Avani Lekhara delivered a stellar performance in the Women's 10m Air Rifle Stand SH1 Final, breaking the Games record with a score of 249.6 points, securing India's fourth gold of the day. Later in the day, the Judo contingent added two medals to the tally followed by one more medal in taekwondo.