An unexpected switch to long jump, a troublesome knee and a high jump title to defend. India’s double Paralympic medallist took the risk and left Nagoya with two gold medals.
There is something unmistakably theatrical about Nishad Kumar. The sunglasses, the swagger, the confident walk towards the competition arena and the attitude of a man who knows exactly what he is capable of.
But behind that superstar exterior is a fiercely disciplined athlete who had quietly been plotting one of the biggest surprises of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games.
Nishad arrived in Japan as the defending men’s T47 high jump champion. Another gold in his specialist event was the obvious target. What few knew was that he had decided to enter the long jump as well.
The risk was considerable. The long jump came first, and one awkward landing could have jeopardised his high jump title defence.
Nishad went ahead anyway. Two days later, he had two gold medals, a Games record and a smile that suggested he had enjoyed every minute of the gamble.
A Secret Plan And A Troublesome Knee
A recurring knee injury prompted Nishad and his coaching team to consider long jump, an event requiring a straight approach rather than the curved run-up used in high jump.
“Every time I got closer to a competition, the injury would start troubling me again because the number of high jump sessions would increase,” he explained.
“Last year, we decided that instead of running on the curve, which was repeatedly putting pressure on my knee, we would focus on running straight.”
Working with coach Jeremy Fischer in California, Nishad spent months adjusting his technique. Meditation and visualisation became important parts of his preparation.
“If I was going to compete in long jump, I wanted to win gold,” he said.
The transition was hardly smooth. Landing technique, maintaining speed and coordinating the final steps proved difficult.
“Sometimes the muscle memory was not working, or I couldn’t execute what the coach was asking me to do. That was disappointing,” he admitted.
His coach broke down the challenges into smaller steps. Meanwhile, high jump training was reduced considerably, with long jump becoming the priority.
First Came The Unexpected Gold
Nishad showed little hesitation when he stepped onto the long jump runway on Monday.
He opened with 6.95m, improved to 7.09m and produced the winning 7.11m in the third round. He matched that distance in his fifth attempt, finishing ahead of Uzbekistan’s Omadbek Khasanov (6.99m) and Sri Lanka’s Mohammadu Safran (6.55m).
The surprise gold was secured. But could his troublesome knee withstand another demanding competition the following day?
Back To Familiar Heights
High jump final saw Nishad return to familiar territory. He cleared 1.88m, 1.94m, 1.98m and 2.02m on his first attempts before sailing over 2.04m to establish a new Asian Para Games record.
Uzbekistan’s Muhammadabdulloh Tursunjonov finished second at 1.94m, a full 10 centimetres behind the Indian.
Nishad attempted 2.06m but could not clear it. With gold secured, there was little reason to risk aggravating his knee.
“The body is tired now, but the target we came here for has been achieved. Everyone is happy. My family is happy, I am happy, and my team is happy,” he said.
He became only the third Indian to win two gold medals at a single Asian Para Games, joining Ankur Dhama and Sheetal Devi.
From A Village In Himachal To Paralympic Glory
Born into a farming family in Baduan village in Himachal Pradesh’s Una district, Nishad lost his right hand and part of his forearm in a grass-cutting machine accident as a young boy.
Inspired by his mother, a state-level volleyball player and discus thrower, he pursued athletics and eventually moved to Panchkula for training.
He recalls arriving at the training centre carrying cooking gas, vegetables and even a bed, unaware that accommodation and meals would be provided.
Those humble beginnings seem far removed from the athlete who now walks into championships with the confidence of a superstar.
Nishad won high jump silver at both the Tokyo and Paris Paralympics before becoming world champion in New Delhi in 2025 with an Asian-record 2.14m.
After Paris 2024, he bought his farmer father a large torch from Dubai airport to check the family fields at night.
Two Medals, One Happy Champion
Nishad could barely contain his amusement when asked which medal he preferred.
“It’s fun to look at them, but now I have to keep turning my head from one medal to the other. I don’t even know which one to look at! Usually, there’s just one medal to focus on,” he said, laughing.
His next ambition is to challenge for medals in both events at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, provided his knee holds up.
The sunglasses and swagger may attract attention. In Nagoya, it was his determination, calculated risk and two gold medals that did the talking. By ND Prashant for APC
