PM Modi, Smriti Irani, and other leaders congratulate Prachi Yadav on her silver medal in kayaking at the Asian Para Games 2023

 PM Modi, Smriti Irani, and other leaders congratulate Prachi Yadav on her silver medal in kayaking at the Asian Para Games 2023

On October 23, athlete Prachi Yadav won a silver medal in canoeing in the women's VL2 Final, marking India's first performance at the current 4th Asian Games in Hangzhou. Irodakhon won the gold medal with a time of 1:02.125, while Prachi finished in second place with a time of 1:03.47. Saki Komatsu of Japan finished third with a time of 1:11.635 seconds.

The first gold she earned in the Asian Paralympics, according to Prime Minister Modi, "etches her name in the history of Indian sports."

"Prachi Yadav etches her name in the development of Indian sports by capturing the first medal at the Asian Para Games," the Prime Minister said in a post on the social media platform X. I'd like to congratulate ItzPrachi_ on her incredible silver medal victory in the Para Canoeing Women's VL2 final. Her outstanding achievement has inspired pride across the country.

Prachi's victory was also acknowledged by Union Minister Smriti Irani, who praised Prachi for proving that willpower has no boundaries.

The Union Minister spoke to X and stated,

The first medal for India is won by Nari Shakti, who also sets the winning tone. The relentless para-canoeist @ItzPrachi_ deserves congratulations for winning the #AsianParaGames2022. She has shown that resolve has no boundaries by slogging through difficulties. India is pleased with you.

Anurag Thakur, the minister of sports, expressed his happiness when India's Nari Shakti brought home the first medal of the competition. The Union Minister praised her passion, unwavering dedication, and extraordinary constancy, saying that the country is once again proud of her.

On the first day of the athletics category at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, India won all three medals in the men's club throws F51 event with Pranav Soorma taking home the gold. With a leap of 30.01 meters, Soorma, 29, smashed the previous record set in the Asian Para Games. Dharambir (28.76 meters) and Amit Kumar (26.93 meters) finished second and third, respectively. There were just four contestants in the race, and Radhi Ali Alharthi of Saudi Arabia came in last with a throw of 23.77 meters.

In the men's T63 high jump, three Indians also finished 1-2-3, however only gold and silver medals were given out according to Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) regulations. In accordance with the "minus one rule" of the APC, Shailesh Kumar, one of three Indian athletes, won the gold with a leap of 1.82 meters, breaking the previous Asian Para Games record, while Mariyappan Thangavelu (1.80 meters) earned silver. 

At the World Para Athletics Championships earlier this year, the 23-year-old Kumar took home a silver medal while Thangavelu placed fourth. Both have earned spots in the next Paralympics in Paris. Athletes who have had one leg amputated above the knee compete in the T63 division while using a prosthetic.

In the men's high jump T47 class, Nishad Kumar earned India's third gold medal of the day after clearing a height of 2.02m. Ram Pal, a fellow countryman, grabbed third place with a leap of 1.94m. Athletes with an impairment or amputation below the elbow or wrist fall under the T47 classification. With a throw of 12.33 meters, Monu Ghangas won the bronze medal in the men's F11 shot put competition. Prachi Yadav won a silver medal in the women's canoe VL2 event with a timing of 1:03.147.