NEW DELHI: India witnessed a night of jubilation on Friday as Nishad Kumar and Simran struck gold within moments of each other at the World Para Athletics Championships (WAPC), sending the home crowd at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium into raptures. Their twin triumphs not only electrified the atmosphere but also propelled India from 11th to fourth place in the medal standings.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In the men’s high jump T47 final, Nishad Kumar delivered a nerveless performance to topple a world-class field. The 24-year-old cleared 2.12m to secure the Asian record and ultimately clinched gold ahead of Turkiye’s Abdulla Ilgaz and three-time defending champion Roderick Townsend of the USA, who surprisingly bowed out at 2.03m. “I just kept telling myself to stay calm and focus on each jump. Winning gold at home makes this even more special,” Nishad said, his victory marking one of India’s most memorable moments of the championship.
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Barely minutes later, 25-year-old Simran added to the euphoria with a stunning sprint in the women’s 100m T12 final. Teaming with guide Umar Saifi, she broke the 12-second barrier for the first time, clocking 11.95s to win gold and set a new personal best. “I was nervous before the race, but once it started, I trusted my training. Hearing the crowd cheer as I crossed the line was unforgettable,” Simran said.Earlier in the day, India also bagged two bronze medals — Preeti Pal in the women’s 200m T36 and Pardeep Kumar in the men’s discus throw F46 — pushing their tally to 15 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze).At the top of the standings, Brazil continue to dominate with 12 gold, followed by China (9) and Poland (8).
