Asian Para Gold Medallist Pranav Soorma Makes Virat Kohli Comparison: ‘When We Play Cricket…’

Last Updated:October 20, 2026, 8:38 PM IST

Paris Paralympics silver medallist Pranav Soorma clinched Asian Para Games gold with a continental record in discus throw.

Pranav Soorma has drawn an interesting comparison with Virat Kohli (Picture credit: X/AFP)

Paris Paralympics silver medallist discus thrower Pranav Soorma, who won gold on Tuesday at the Asian Para Games, has said that finishing at the top of the podium in a new event is like ace Indian batter Virat Kohli bowling once in a while and managing to get a wicket.

Soorma clinched gold in the discus throw at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday, setting a continental record in his first major competition in the event. He had won silver at the Paralympics and gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games in the club throw.

Soorma won gold in the combined F51/52/53 event with an Asian record, while compatriot Ram Ratan Singh bagged silver to complete a 1-2 finish for India.

“When we play cricket, a batter sometimes bowls. Like Virat Kohli does, batting very well. But after a long time, he bowls an over in which he gets a batter out,” Soorma said after winning the gold.

Thirty-two-year-old Soorma, who won gold in the F51 club throw at the previous Asian Para Games in China, bagged the top spot with a fourth-attempt throw of 11.66m, setting a new Asian record.

Ram Ratan, 31, produced a throw of 10.35m in his second attempt to win the silver.

“It is a new event for me. I am competing in this event (discus) for the first time in such a big event. I am very happy to do my personal best and break the Asian record,” Soorma said.

“My pet event is club throw; this (discus) is my second event. This time I am participating in both the events, discus throw and club throw,” Soorma added.

Asked about the challenge of switching from club throw to discus throw, he said, “Club throw and discus throw are technically very different events. We have to apply glue to the club and grip it with our fingers.”

“But in discus, we apply it to the whole hand. So technically, applying glue and sticking it properly and releasing it, that’s a very technical aspect,” Soorma added.

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What event did Pranav Soorma win at the Asian Para Games?

Pranav Soorma won the gold medal in the men’s discus throw F51/52/53 event at the Asian Para Games, setting a new continental record with a throw of 11.66m.

Who finished second behind Pranav Soorma in the discus throw event?

Compatriot Ram Ratan Singh bagged the silver medal with a throw of 10.35m in his second attempt, completing a 1-2 finish for India.

What is Pranav Soorma’s pet event compared to his new discus event?

Soorma’s pet event is the club throw, in which he previously won a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games and a silver at the Paralympics.

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