Indian para-athlete Tejal Salve has made history by clinching two gold medals at the Asia Cup Athletics in Bangkok, Thailand. The 28-year-old from Maharashtra dominated the F54 category, winning discus throw (gold, 28.45m) and javelin throw (gold, 22.18m) on March 29-30, 2026. Tejal’s throws smashed her personal bests by 1.5m and 2m respectively, outpacing China’s Li Chan (silver, 27.89m discus) and Thailand’s local favorite (bronze). “Training with ISRO-inspired tech gadgets boosted my precision,” Tejal shared post-win. Her feats add to India’s haul of 12 medals (7 gold) at the event, topping the para-athletics table per World Para Athletics data.
From a Mumbai slum to national hero, Tejal overcame polio at age 5. She trains under coach Rupesh Shirsath, using AI analytics from SAI centers. India’s para-sports budget hit ₹800 crore in 2026, fueling stars like her ahead of Paris Paralympics 2028 qualifiers.
Assam celebrates too: Tejal visited Guwahati last year for motivational camps, inspiring Northeast talents. Her wins boost India’s Paralympic medal tally projection to 25+ golds.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What medals did Tejal Salve win?
Two golds in F54: discus (28.45m, personal best) and javelin (22.18m) at Bangkok Asia Cup, beating China and Thailand rivals.
2. Why is this a big achievement for India?
Tejal led India’s 12-medal (7 gold) haul, topping para-athletics. Boosts Paralympics prep with ₹800cr funding; she’s Asia’s top F54 thrower.
3. What’s Tejal’s background?
28-year-old from Mumbai, polio survivor since age 5. Trains with AI tech under SAI; inspired Assam camps for Northeast para-athletes.
(*Image Source- EdexLive)