New Delhi: Suvarna Raj has won her maiden gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games, taking India’s tally to 15 gold medals.
The 44-year-old athlete delivered four throws beyond the 15-m mark in her six attempts, with an outstanding throw of 15.66 m. Raj participated in the women’s F54 discus throw, a classification for seated field athletes with impairments affecting trunk and lower-limb function.
The latest win adds to the para athlete’s impressive international record. She won bronze in the women’s F54/55 discus throw at the Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026, and gold at the Canberra Track Meet in Australia. Raj also received the National Youth Award from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in 2015.
She is coached by Pintu Nagar and has been active in sports since 2017. The government’s Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC) supports her training and competition expenses with Rs 7.7 lakh.
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Raj on her gold through an X post.
“Warmest congratulations to Suvarna Raj for winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s Discus Throw at the Asian Para Games 2026. This is a historic achievement made possible by your exceptional capabilities. May your success inspire many more athletes to aim higher and believe in their potential,” Murmu wrote.
Away from the arena
A wheelchair user, Raj has represented India at three Asian Para Games and various international events. She is a disability rights advocate and a former brand ambassador for the Election Commission of India.
Away from sports, she has another life. Raj works as an accessibility specialist and has dedicated her life to promoting inclusion, equal opportunities, and the rights of persons with disabilities.
She has conducted more than 1,000 accessibility audits across India and served as the ECI ambassador for accessible elections.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
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