The 8th Indian Open International Para Athletics Championships 2026 kicked off in Bengaluru with remarkable displays by para athletes from India and abroad. In the Men’s 100m T12 category, Chaitanya Pathak of Maharashtra secured gold with a time of 11.39 seconds, closely followed by Vishu Vishu from Haryana who took silver, and Gowtham Karanam from Andhra Pradesh who claimed bronze.
Another highlight was the Men’s 100m T47 event where Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath from Kerala clinched victory in 10.63 seconds, with Dilip Gavit from Maharashtra securing silver and Babu Janu Pandaramise from Karnataka taking bronze. Punjab’s Vivek Sharma emerged victorious in the Men’s 100m T63 category, clocking 12.92 seconds to claim gold.
Nishad Kumar, a silver medallist at the Tokyo Paralympics, shone in the Men’s Long Jump T47 event, winning gold with a leap of 7.34m. In the Men’s Discus Throw F64 competition, Pardeep Kumar of S.S.C.B. secured gold with a throw of 50.47m in a closely contested battle.
The Women’s Shot Put F57 category saw Haryana’s Sharmila clinch gold with a throw of 9.86m. Karnataka’s Rakshitha Raju dominated the Women’s 1500m T11 race, claiming gold with a time of 5:17.54. The championships will run until May 28, featuring top para athletes from various countries competing in different disciplines.
