Radha Venkatesh Wins Silver Medal at Asian Para Games 2026 in Women's 1500m T12/T13
Indian para-athlete Radha Venkatesh has clinched a silver medal in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Competing on October 19, 2026, Venkatesh secured a strong second-place finish, contributing to India's impressive performance as Soumya took gold, making it an Indian 1-2 finish.
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan – Star Indian para-athlete Radha Venkatesh added another prestigious medal to her illustrious career, clinching silver in the Women's 1500m T12/T13 event at the 5th Asian Para Games on Monday, October 19, 2026. The powerful performance saw India achieve a remarkable one-two finish in the race, with Soumya securing the gold medal. Soumya Kumar Wins Gold Medal at Asian Para Games 2026 in Women's 1500m T12/T13.
Venkatesh, guided by Govind Solanki, clocked a time of 5:30.90, earning her 421 points and the silver medal. Her compatriot Soumya, with guide Bharath Kumar, ran a personal best of 5:12.39 to claim the gold with 621 points. Japan's Mana Sasaki secured the bronze medal, despite recording a faster time of 5:12.15, accumulating 336 points.
A Promising Start for India in Athletics
The medal event, a final, was a highlight of the opening day of medal competitions in para-athletics, which commenced on October 19 at the Paloma Mizuho Sports Park in Nagoya. The Asian Para Games 2026 officially opened on October 18, 2026, at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium, welcoming around 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees. India's strong start in athletics sets an encouraging tone for the contingent, which features 168 athletes competing across 11 sports.
Radha Venkatesh's Decorated Career
Radha Venkatesh, hailing from Chitradurga, Karnataka, has consistently been a formidable force in para-athletics. She is a visually impaired athlete, training at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) centre in Bengaluru under coach Rahul Balakrishna. Her career is marked by numerous achievements, including securing first place in the 1500m at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games (held in 2023).
Prior to her Aichi-Nagoya 2026 success, Venkatesh earned silver in the 1500m and bronze in the 400m at the Asian Para Games in Jakarta in 2018. She also boasts gold medals from the 5th Indian Open National Para Athletics Championship in 2023 and the Sharjah International Open Para Athletics Meeting in 2023. Currently, she is ranked No. 1 in Asia and No. 2 in the world in her category, underscoring her consistent elite performance on the international stage. Nishad Kumar Wins Gold Medal at Asian Para Games 2026 in Men’s Long Jump T47.
Where to Watch the Asian Para Games 2026
Fans across various regions can follow the action live as the Asian Para Games continue until October 24, 2026. In India, viewers can tune into DD Sports for live telecast, while live streaming will be available on the Waves OTT app and the Prasar Bharati Sports YouTube channel. For other regions, broadcasting details are typically announced closer to the event by official sports broadcasters and streaming platforms, and viewers are advised to check local listings for the most up-to-date information on channels holding rights for the Asian Para Games 2026 in their respective regions.
Today's silver medal performance by Radha Venkatesh, alongside Soumya's gold, marks a fantastic start for India at the Asian Para Games 2026, highlighting the nation's growing prowess in para-sports on the Asian stage. The focus now shifts to other medal events as India aims to build on this early success in Aichi-Nagoya.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 19, 2026 04:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).