Asian Games 2026: Tajinderpal Toor wins silver as Animesh, Gulveer reach finals

Tajinderpal Singh Toor added another Asian Games medal to his collection on Saturday, winning silver in the men’s shot put with a best throw of 20.64m.

The defending champion had won gold at the previous two editions, but could not complete a hat-trick after Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebiseh set a new Games record of 20.81m. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Tolu took bronze with 20.48m.

Tayebiseh’s winning throw also erased Toor’s previous Asian Games record of 20.75m, set in 2018.

In the men’s 200m, Animesh Kujur booked his place in the final after clocking 20.81 seconds to finish second in his semifinal heat. He ranked eighth overall among the finalists.

Gulveer Singh and Yoonus Shah also advanced to the men’s 1500m final. Singh clocked 3:45.79 to finish sixth in his heat, while Shah recorded 3:45.77 for fifth. Japan’s Kazuto Iizawa topped the heat in 3:45.22.

India secured two finalists in the women’s 200m, with Harita Bhadra and Unnathi Aiyappa earning direct qualification. Harita clocked 23.31 seconds for second in Heat 2, while Unnathi finished third in 23.33.

Nandhini also qualified for the women’s 100m hurdles.

There were setbacks as well. National record holder Praveen Chithravel retired from the men’s triple jump final after appearing to suffer discomfort in his lower leg.

Jyothi Yarraji also withdrew from her women’s 100m hurdles heat after feeling pain during her warm-up. An Athletics Federation of India official said Yarraji experienced pain after completing her warm-up.

Yarraji had returned to competition this year after undergoing surgery in July 2025 for an ACL tear in her right knee.