Toor: Olympic target is 22m after silver in Nagoya

Tajinderpal Singh Toor finished second in the men's shot put at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, on September 26, 2026, with Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebise taking gold with a Games record of 20.81 m.

Toor entered the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games as a two-time defending shot put champion and one of India’s leading medal hopes. His season best coming into the event was 21.03 and his personal best is 21.77; compatriot Karanveer Singh was listed with an SB/PB of 20.49. Expectations for a third straight Asian Games title meant Toor was widely regarded as a favourite going into the final.

The Indian produced a silver-medal performance, registering a best throw of 20.64m to finish second. Toor said he achieved his mark on his fifth attempt.

Reflecting on the result, Toor said: "Yes, I am a little disappointed. I was very confident of doing well today. The body was also feeling really good, and I was hopeful of doing 21m even till the last throw." He added: "But the way the last 2-3 months have gone for me, with (shoulder) cuff injury which led to a third-place finish at the inter-State championships, I am glad to still come here and finish on the podium," Toor admitted here.

Conditions during the competition proved difficult, Toor said. "The conditions were also not easy; staying warmed-up itself was very difficult. Most of the best throws from everyone came in the first or second attempt, but I still managed to do it in my fifth," he added. He also warned about the slippery circle, saying: "I was also a little cautious of slipping inside the throwing circle because it was so wet in constant rain, and I could not come into my natural rhythm. But I could have done better," a downcast Toor added.

Mohammadreza Tayebise's winning mark of 20.81 m established a new Games record and prevented Toor from securing a third consecutive Asian Games gold. Toor, who celebrated on the podium after claiming silver, acknowledged the setback in Nagoya but framed it within his recent physical struggles and the competition conditions.

Outlining his plans after Nagoya, Toor said: "I have not been able to do well in the Olympics for my country. My aim now only is to throw 22m or above at the Olympics and set a new personal, national and Asian record. This is a fight with myself now. I will only be satisfied when I throw beyond 22m, and that target, that dream, is not allowing me to settle. What I have done in practice, till I don’t do that in competition also, I won’t rest easy."