Devender Kumar wins gold as India sweep men's discus F44/64 at Asian Para Games
Devender Kumar won gold in the men's discus throw F44/64 at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as India completed a podium sweep. Rakesh took silver and Pardeep Kumar claimed bronze in the combined-class event.
Devender's best effort measured 49.71 metres, Rakesh threw 49.35 metres and Pardeep recorded the longest single throw of the competition at 51.15 metres, a personal best. The final placings were determined using the Raza points system, with Devender finishing on 781 points, Rakesh on 777 and Pardeep on 669; the Raza system takes athletes' classifications into account. F44 and F64 are classifications for para-athletes with lower-limb impairments, with F44 athletes competing without a prosthesis and F64 athletes competing with a prosthesis.
Reflecting on the win, Devender said after the event: "It feels really good. This is my first international gold medal, and I am very happy." He also acknowledged that he had hoped for a longer throw: "I had prepared very well, and I am happy to have finished first. However, I could not produce the throw I had expected. But today was my day, and I am happy that I won a medal for India. Everything worked out well," he added.
On his competitive approach, Devender said: "I was thinking that this was a competition and I had come here to throw as far as possible. That was my focus, and I put in my best effort to achieve that." He described how he and other athletes adapt to conditions when competing overseas: "We keep training and learning, both technically and in other aspects. When we travel abroad, we observe different factors, including the weather and things that may affect our training or performance. We assess these challenges and work out how we can improve next time. That process of learning and making improvements continues," he said.
Devender comes from Kishkanda village in Haryana's Charkhi Dadri district; his father, Dharmender, is an ex-serviceman and a national-level volleyball player. Devender played volleyball at national level in his early years before a serious accident at age 21 left him with multiple fractures in his left leg and hip; he underwent surgery and spent two months in hospital. His cousin Sandeep Kumar introduced him to para-athletics and encouraged him to take up discus throw, and Devender won gold at the Open Nationals in 2019.
He has represented India at the World Para Athletics Championships and the Commonwealth Games, won gold at the 2022 Asian Para Games and finished sixth at the 2025 World Championships. His other listed results include a fifth place at the Fazza World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2022, gold medals at the Indian Open in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and silver medals at the Indian Open in 2021 and 2026.
Devender said he wanted to dedicate his medal to his son: "I would like to dedicate this medal to my son," and added that his next target is a medal at the World Championships.
