- Nishad Kumar won two gold medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games.
- He achieved games records in T47 high jump and long jump.
- He won silver medals in the men's high jump T47 event at both of his previous Paralympic appearances.
Nishad Kumar etched his name in history at the Asian Para Games 2026 after winning two gold medals in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He became the third Indian to win two golds at a single Asian Para Games edition after Ankur Dhama and Sheetal Devi. Refusing to let adversity dictate his life, Nishad looked beyond his disability and dominated the T47 high jump category on the international stage.
The two-time Paralympic silver medallist clinched the men's high jump T47 title with a Games-record effort of 2.04m, a day after winning gold in the men's long jump T47 event with a best effort of 7.11m.
From Losing His Arm To World Para Athletics Champion
Nishad was only eight years old when he lost his lower right arm in a fodder-cutting machine while helping his mother on the farm. But the physical impairment did not discourage him from pursuing his athletic ambitions. He trained relentlessly and followed a disciplined routine.
Finally, his efforts paid off when he won the men's T47 high jump title in last year's World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi with a best jump of 2.14m. The grid included greats like five-time world champion Rodrick Townsend.
With the emerging knee pain, Nishad decided to reverse the training load from 70 per cent high jump and 30 per cent long jump this year. Since speed is necessary in the long jump, he did drills and exercises to control his long jump and worked on increasing his speed.
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He recalls, "It came through special quick reaction drills as well strength work in gym so that the ground reaction was less and the muscle memory of the controlled curve run in the high jump was reshaped. Once we achieved that, the next focus was on the running as well as landing techniques."
"I Started Doing Long Jump While In School"
After recognising his talent, Nishad's parents sent him to the Panchkula Sports Complex in Haryana when he was 17. Under coach Naseem Ahmad, he started his training and soon after arrived at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium. For two years, he committed himself to only training.
The boy who arrived at the training centre with only his own cooking gas, vegetables and bed, built his career gradually as the Parathelite and went on to win two silver medals at the Paralympics and three gold medals at the Asian Para Games.
"I started doing long jumps while in school. I did not know that I would be able to reach these heights. God took something away from me, but he has given back so much in return," Nishad said, as quoted by India Today.
His medal win in Japan can open the door to competing in both events at the Los Angeles Paralympics. However, the final selection will depend upon his preparation and fitness.
Two Gold Medals And A Special Torch
Nishad has a unique way of celebrating his triumph with the family. After winning a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, he purchased the biggest torch that he could find at the Dubai airport to give to his father as a gift.
When asked about this strange gift, he said that since his father is a farmer, the torch could come in handy when he goes to the farm at night to check on the animals and see if they have destroyed it or not. This time, his two gold medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games are beyond any gift.