India bag 18 medals, including 4 gold on Day 2 of Hangzhou Asian Para Games | Asian Games 2023 News

NEW DELHI: Prachi Yadav achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in para canoe at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou on Tuesday.
India secured a total of 18 medals, which included four golds, bringing their overall count to 35 medals in the first two days of competition. The Indian contingent had previously earned 17 medals, including six golds, on Monday.
India maintained its fourth position in the overall standings with a collection of 10 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze medals, trailing behind China (155), Iran (44), and Uzbekistan (38).
Prachi, who had secured a silver in the canoe VL2 category on Monday, added to her medal tally with a gold in the KL2 event.

Other athletes who won gold medals on Tuesday included Deepthi Jeevanji in women’s T20 400m, Sharath Shankarappa Makanahalli in men’s T13 5000m, and Neeraj Yadav in men’s F54/55/56 discus throw.
Prachi, a 28-year-old athlete who is paralysed from the waist down, completed the 500m distance in 54.962 seconds to secure the gold in the KL2 event, a category for athletes who use their arms and have partial trunk and leg function to propel themselves. She hails from Gwalior.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the medal-winning efforts of the Indian athletes in a series of tweets.
“Congratulations to @ItzPrachi on winning the prestigious Gold Medal win in the Para Canoe Women’s KL2 event. This was such an exceptional performance, which has made India proud. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead,” Modi wrote on X, acknowledging the stupendous effort of Prachi.

In the women’s T20 category 400m race, Deepthi set a new Games and Asian record with her gold-winning time of 56.69 seconds. This category is designed for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Sharath Shankarappa Makanahalli secured gold in the 5000m race for runners with a visual impairment, completing the race in 20:18.90. Only a gold medal was awarded in this event as there were just two participants.

In the men’s F54/55/56 discus throw event, Indian athletes swept all three medals. Neeraj Yadav clinched the gold with a Games and Asian record distance of 38.56m, while Yogesh Kathuniya (42.13m) and Muthuraja (35.06m) took home the silver and bronze, respectively.

Indian athletes also secured several silver and bronze medals on the day, showcasing their prowess in various events.
In para shooting, Rudransh Khandelwal and Manish Narwal earned a silver and bronze, respectively, in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event, while Rubina Francis secured a bronze in the P2 women’s 10m air pistol SH1 category.
Bronze medalists on the day included Manish Kaurav (men’s KL3 canoe), Ashok (men’s 65kg powerlifting), Gajendra Singh (men’s VL2 canoe), and Ekta Bhayan (women’s F32/51 club throw).
On the first day of competition, India had an outstanding performance, winning a total of 17 medals, including six gold medals, with star shooter Avani Lekhara leading the way.
Apart from Avani (women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1), the other gold medalists on Monday were Pranav Soorma (men’s F51 club throw), Shailesh Kumar (men’s T63 high jump), Nishad Kumar (men’s T47 high jump), Ankur Dhama (men’s T11 5000m), and Praveen Kumar (men’s T64 high jump).
India is represented by 313 athletes at the Hangzhou Para Asian Games, the largest contingent in any edition, with a target of winning 100 medals. The country is participating in 17 out of the 22 sports and has introduced athletes for the first time in rowing, canoeing, lawn bowls, taekwondo, and blind football.
(With PTI inputs)