Pranav Soorma wins men's discus gold at Asian Para Games, sets Asian record and compares feat to Virat Kohli wicket

Pranav Soorma won the men's discus throw gold at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday, establishing a new Asian record in his first major competition in the event. The 32-year-old drew a comparison between his achievement and India batter Virat Kohli claiming a rare wicket with his occasional bowling.

Soorma secured gold in the F51/52/53 combined event with a throw of 11.66 metres on his fourth attempt, while compatriot Ram Ratan Singh took silver with a best of 10.35 metres on his second attempt to complete an India one-two. "When we play cricket, a batsman sometimes bowls. Like Virat Kohli does batting very well. But after a long time, he bowls an over in which he gets (a batter) out," Soorma said after winning gold.

The 32-year-old had previously won gold in the club throw F51 event at the last Asian Para Games in China, but discus is a new addition to his competition programme and his second event overall. "It's a new event for me. I am competing in this event (discus) for the first time in such a big event. I am very happy to do my personal best and break the Asian record," he said. "My pet event is club throw, this (discus) is my second event. This time I am participating in both the events, discus throw and club throw."

Soorma described technical differences between the two disciplines, underlining the handling and release methods that distinguish club throw from discus. "Club throw and discus throw are technically very different games. We have to apply glue to the club, we stick it with our fingers. But in discus, we apply it on the whole hand. So technically, applying glue and sticking it properly and releasing it, that is a very technical aspect," he said.

He also said he had spent the past year working hard and putting in extra practice to prepare for discus throw, which he described as a relatively new addition to his competitive programme. Iran's Alireza Hemami, classified as F53, won bronze with a 20.20-metre throw on his fourth attempt but finished behind the Indians under the event's scoring system.

The Raza Point System was used to determine final placings in the combined classification event by converting performances into standardised scores after accounting for athletes' impairment classifications, allowing competitors from different classes to be ranked on a common basis. Soorma and Singh are both F51 athletes; that classification covers competitors with significant limitations in trunk, leg and hand movement, along with varying degrees of restriction in arm movement.

Athletes with similar classifications may compete together when there are not enough participants to hold separate events, and the F51-F57 categories cover seated throwing events for athletes with lower-body impairments, limb deficiencies, reduced muscle power, restricted range of movement or leg-length differences.