Sandeep, Haney’s world record gold takes India’s medal tally past 100 at Asian Para Games
India crossed the 100-medal mark at the 2026 Asian Para Games after Sandeep Singh Maan and Haney produced a world-record performance to win gold medals in athletics in Nagoya on Friday, October 23.
Competing in the men’s 400m, Sandeep produced a sensational performance at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium, winning gold and setting a world record. Moments later, Indian javelin thrower Haney added another world record by winning the men’s F37/38 event with a throw of 60.49m.
Competing in the men’s 400m medley, which included athletes from the T44, T42 and T64 classifications, Sandeep led the race from the start and maintained his lead despite a late surge from Saudi Arabia’s Alsana Noor. He won the gold in 52.28 seconds, bettering his personal best by over a second and helping India cross the 100-medal milestone.
Asian Para Games Live: 23 October update
The win also gave India its 25th gold medal in the competition, taking the country to within two of its all-time best tally of 27 gold medals achieved at the previous edition in Hangzhou.
Sandeep was not the only Indian medalist in action. Ajay Kumar, running in Lane 5, clinched bronze with a time of 53.61 seconds to add another medal to India’s tally. Courtesy: DD Sports
HANEY BREAKS THE LONG-STANDING WORLD RECORD
Haney followed up Sandeep’s gold with a record performance in the F37/38 men’s javelin. The Indian thrower saved his best for his last two attempts, posting throws of 59.72m and 60.49m to leave the field behind.
His winning distance broke the long-standing world record of 57.81m set by China’s Xia Dong in 2008. Haney’s performance of 60.49m marked a major milestone in his career and secured India’s second world record gold in quick succession. Courtesy: DD Sports
WHO IS SANDEEP SINGH MAAN?
Sandeep Singh Maan, born 16 July 1993, is an international para-athlete from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. He was born with a structural disability in his left hand that limits his range of motion. He competes in para-athletics and has built a career in sprints, including the 100m, 200m and 400m, as well as the long jump.
Sandeep developed his running skills under the tutelage of national athletics coach Satyapal Singh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Through years of training and competition, he has excelled in the domestic and international circuits, becoming a national record holder and one of India’s veteran para-athletes.
His career included several major international medals. Sandeep won silver at the 2010 Asian Para Games in Guangzhou and repeated the feat at the 2014 edition in Incheon. He added a bronze medal at the 2018 Jakarta Games and continued his presence on the continental podium.
Sandeep has also achieved success at the IWAS World Games, winning gold medals in 2009 and 2011. His achievements have been recognized with the Arjuna Award, one of India’s highest sporting honours, as well as the Maharana Pratap Award and the Aravali Award.
HANEY DEFENDS GOLD MEDAL
Haney is an Indian para-athlete from Haryana who specializes in throwing, particularly javelin and discus. They compete in the F37 classification, which includes athletes with disorders of coordination and movement associated with conditions such as hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis.
He trains under coach Sunil Phogat at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Rohtak. Haney emerged as a promising young thrower on the domestic circuit before establishing himself in the Indian senior para-athletics contingent.
Haney already made his mark at the Asian Para Games when he won gold in the men’s F37/38 javelin event at the Hangzhou edition. He also competed in the discus and finished fourth at the World Para Athletics Championships.
His world record in the throw in Nagoya added another great achievement to his career. The 60.49m effort, which eclipsed Xia Dong’s record that stood since 2008, also helped India reach a major milestone in its medal campaign at the Asian Para Games.
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