Asian Para Games: India win five golds on Day 2, Nishad Kumar completes double as tally hits 35

India enjoyed a bumper second day at the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, winning five gold medals in para athletics and 24 medals overall to take the country's tally to 35.

After Day 2, India had nine gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze medals, according to The Sunday Guardian and Khel Now, following 11 medals on the opening day.

Nishad Kumar's double

High jumper Nishad Kumar cleared 2.04 metres in the men's T47 event to set a Games record and add to the long jump gold he won on Monday. He became only the third Indian to win two gold medals at a single Asian Para Games, after Ankur Dhama and Sheetal Devi, The Economic Times reported.

Sprinter Simran won the women's 200m T12 in a Games record time of 24.80 seconds, her first gold at the event, while Tejalben Damor took bronze in the same race on her debut. Deepthi Jeevanji retained her women's 400m T20 title, clocking 56.36 seconds, also a Games record.

One-two finishes in discus

Pranav Soorma threw 11.66 metres in the men's F51/52/53 discus to win gold with what was reported as an Asian record, with Ram Ratan Singh taking silver. Devender Kumar won the men's F44/64 discus with a throw of 49.71 metres, as Rakesh claimed silver and Pardeep Kumar bronze. India won 14 medals in para athletics on the day.

Beyond the track and field, Tokyo Paralympic champion Manish Narwal took silver in the men's 10m air pistol SH1, Shrishti Arora won bronze in the women's event, and powerlifter Ashok Kumar Malik won silver in the men's 65kg class. Para archer Sheetal Devi advanced to the gold-medal match in the women's compound individual event after beating Japan's Aya Shinohara in the semi-final.

Why it matters

India finished the 2022 edition with a record 111 medals, and a strong start in Japan keeps the contingent on course for another big haul as the Games continue through the week.