The 2026 in Nagoya witnessed another remarkable day for India’s para-athletics team on Wednesday.
Athletes Anubhav Chaudhary and Rakeshbhai Bhatt both clinched bronze medals in their respective men’s 100-meter finals.
Chaudhary achieved a personal best of 12.72 seconds in the T35 category, securing third place. Bhatt also excelled in the T37 event, finishing with a personal best time of 11.50 seconds to earn his place on the podium. With these performances, India’s medal tally in track events at the Games has reached nine, including gold medals.
In the T35 final, Iran’s Alireza Jareh set a games record with a time of 12.32 seconds to win gold. Iraq’s Idris Al-Jaidi secured silver with a personal best of 12.69 seconds, placing Chaudhary in third.
For Chaudhary, hailing from Chhur village near Meerut in , this bronze medal is a significant achievement. Having faced personal challenges from a young age, he honed his sprinting skills under coach Gaurav Tyagi before moving to Delhi for training with Rahul Pawar. Performing at his best in this continental competition marks a major milestone in his athletic career.
Bhatt also delivered an impressive performance in the men’s 100-meter T37 final. Saudi Arabia’s Ali Al-Nakhli won gold with a games record of 11.31 seconds, while Indonesia’s Septoyogo Purnomo took silver with a season-best time of 11.35 seconds. Bhatt’s time of 11.50 seconds earned him the bronze medal.
A sprinter from Motibabariya village in Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, Bhatt has established himself among India’s top para-athletes. He holds the national record in the T37 100 meters and the Asian record in the T37 200 meters, excelling in both domestic championships and international competitions.
Recently, he participated in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he finished fifth in the men’s 100-meter T38 final with a season-best time of 11.82 seconds. This latest medal adds to his collection of international accolades.