Pranav Soorma, survivor of severe spinal injury, wins gold in men's discus throw

Pranav Soorma won gold in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026, securing India's sixth gold medal in Nagoya. The Indian para-athlete, who was left with quadriplegia after a spinal cord injury at 16, beat compatriot Ram Ratan Singh.

In Short

• Pranav Soorma's 11.66m throw set a new Games and Asian record
• India's Ram Ratan Singh took silver, while Iran's Alireza won bronze
• Soorma overcame a life-changing spinal injury

India's Pranav Soorma came from behind to win gold in the men's discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Nagoya on Tuesday, October 20. The 31-year-old, who survived a severe spinal cord injury that left him with quadriplegia, produced a dominant performance to secure India's sixth gold medal of the Games.

Competing second last in the event, Soorma entered the contest when compatriot Ram Ratan Singh was leading the standings and was among the favourites for gold. But Soorma turned the competition around with a stunning opening throw of 10.79m, which took him to the top of the table.

He improved on that effort with a throw of 11.66m in his third attempt, matching the best of his performance in the competition and setting a new Games and Asian record. None of his competitors could better his mark, ensuring that the Indian finished on top of the podium.

Ram Ratan, who had earlier thrown 10.35m, finished with silver, while Iran's Hemami Alireza took bronze.

Asian Para Games: October 20 Live

Alireza's finish behind the two Indians might appear surprising at first glance. The Iranian recorded a throw of 20.20m, considerably farther than Soorma's winning distance. However, the event combined athletes from three different sport classes, F51, F52 and F53, meaning the final standings were determined by Raza points rather than the raw distances achieved.

WHY RAZA POINTS MATTER

Para-athletics groups athletes into sport classes based on how their impairments affect their ability to perform in a particular event. In competitions where athletes from different classes compete together, comparing their performances solely on distance or time may not provide an equitable assessment.

The Raza Point System addresses this by converting an athlete's performance into points using classification-specific performance tables. The points account for the relevant sport class and the event, allowing performances by athletes with different levels of impairment to be compared. The athlete with the highest points total wins, even if another competitor records a longer throw or a faster time.

The men's discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games brought together athletes with different levels of physical impairment. Soorma and Ram Ratan compete in the F51 category, which is associated with significant limitations in trunk and limb function. Alireza competes in F53, a class generally associated with better arm function and limited or no trunk control.

The difference in classifications helps explain why the longest throw did not determine the winner. Despite Alireza's 20.20m effort, Soorma's performance earned him the gold medal under the event's scoring system, with Ram Ratan securing silver.

WHO IS PRANAV SOORMA?

Born on October 4, 1994, Soorma hails from Faridabad, Haryana. His journey to becoming one of India's leading para-athletes began with a life-altering accident in 2011, when he was just 16 years old. A severe spinal cord injury left him with quadriplegia, dramatically changing the course of his life.

Soorma gradually rebuilt his life, pursuing his education while navigating the challenges posed by his condition. He completed his schooling at St Paul's School in Delhi before earning a postgraduate degree from the Delhi School of Economics. Alongside his sporting career, he works as a Scale-2 manager at Bank of Baroda.

His family has played a significant role in his journey. His father, Sanjeev Soorma, left his job to support him as a full-time companion and athletic attendant, helping him travel and manage the demands of competitive sport. Soorma eventually found his way into para-athletics under the guidance of coach Narsi Ram.

Competing in the F51 classification, Soorma relies on his upper-body strength and throwing technique while secured in a specialised throwing chair. His performances have established him as one of India's leading athletes in seated throwing events.

His biggest international breakthrough came in the men's club throw F51 event at the Paris Paralympics in 2024, where he won silver. He finished behind compatriot Dharambir, completing a memorable Indian one-two in the event.

Soorma had also won gold in the men's club throw F51 event at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, where he set a Games record with a throw of 30.01m. His other international achievements include victories at the Serbia Open and medal-winning performances at para-athletics Grand Prix events in Beijing and Tunisia.

A recipient of the Arjuna Award, Soorma has also received support from the Sports Authority of India and Olympic Gold Quest as he continues to compete at the highest level.

At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, he added another continental title to his collection, this time in the discus throw. For an athlete whose life changed dramatically at 16, the gold medal was another milestone in a career built on persistence, adaptation and sustained excellence.

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