Prachi Yadav became the first Indian to win a para canoe gold in the Asian Para Games as she led the country’s medal rush for the second consecutive day here on Tuesday.
India won 18 medals on Tuesday, including four gold, taking the total tally to 35 in the first two days of competition. India had won 17 medals, including six gold, on Monday.
India remained on fourth spot in the standings with 10 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze, behind China (155) , Iran (44) and Uzbekistan (38).
Prachi, who had won a silver in canoe VL2 category on Monday, bagged her second medal of the Games as she picked up a gold in KL2 event.
Deepthi Jeevanji (women’s T20 400m), Sharath Shankarappa Makanahalli (men’s T13 5000m) and Neeraj Yadav (men’s F54/55/56 discus throw) were the other gold medal winners on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Prachi, who is paralysed below the waist, 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. 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.
On the first day of the Hangzhou Para Asian Games, India displayed remarkable prowess, clinching a total of 17 medals, including six golds. Star shooter Avani Lekhara secured gold in the women’s R2 10m air rifle standing SH1 event, setting a positive tone for the Indian contingent. Deepthi triumphed in the women’s T20 category 400m race, clocking a Games and Asian record time of 56.69 seconds. Makanahalli secured gold in the 5000m race for athletes with a visual impairment. In men’s F54/55/56 discus throw, Neeraj Yadav claimed gold with a Games and Asian record distance of 38.56m, while Yogesh Kathuniya and Muthuraja took silver and bronze. Para shooting added to the medal tally with Rudransh Khandelwal and Manish Narwal securing silver and bronze in the P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1 event, and Rubina Francis taking bronze in the P2 women’s 10m air pistol SH1 category.