The Indian team secured its first medals at the World Para Athletics Championships with high jumper Nishad Kumar and 200m runner Preethi Pal winning a silver and bronze, respectively, in Kobe, Japan on Sunday.
Nishad Kumar, a Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist, cleared 1.99m to clinch second place in the men's T47 high jump final, marking India's first medal on the third day of the competition. American athlete Roderick Townsend claimed the gold with a jump of 2.05m.
Another Indian competitor, Ram Pal, finished sixth with his season's best jump of 1.90m.
Kumar previously won a silver in the same event during the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. The T47 classification is designated for para track athletes with a below-elbow or wrist amputation or impairment.
Preethi Pal added to India's medal count by securing a bronze in the women's T35 200m final, finishing with a time of 30.49 seconds. The T35 category is for athletes with coordination impairments.
Additionally, Deepthi Jeevanji qualified for the women's T20 400m final after winning her heat race with an Asian record time of 56.18 seconds. The T20 classification is for athletes with intellectual impairments.
As of Day 3, China leads the medal tally with 26 podium finishes (10 gold, 8 silver, 8 bronze). The Indian team is currently in 29th place. The championships will continue until May 25.