Asian Para Games: Defending champion Shailesh Kumar ready for another big jump

KOLKATA: There was a time when people in his village wondered what future awaited him.Unable to walk properly since childhood after being diagnosed with polio in his right leg, Shailesh Kumar, a resident of Islamnagar village in Bihar’s Jamui district, often faced doubts about what he could achieve.Today, the same people urge him to bring glory to the country, thanks to the success he has achieved in para-athletics. The T63 high jumper heads to the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as the defending champion, carrying not just expectations but also the confidence that comes from changing lives, including his own.“Life has changed significantly, both financially and socially. Earlier, people would wonder what I could achieve because I couldn’t walk properly. Today, their mindset has changed. They see that a para athlete can represent the country and achieve success,” Shailesh told TOI ahead of the Games.Since winning gold with a Games record at the 2023 Asian Para Games in China, the 26-year-old has added several major titles to his résumé, including gold medals at 2025 World Para Athletics Championships and 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix.Training under close friend and coach Ronak Malik in Bengaluru since Jan 2025, the 26-year-old is now focused on defending his high jump title.He enters the competition after overcoming knee issues that troubled him earlier in the season, but Malik is confident his ward can retain the gold medal in high jump and also contend for a podium finish in long jump.“If everything goes according to plan, he has the potential to win medals in both events. Gold is definitely a possibility. He has already set records at the World Championships and Asian Championships and has achieved personal best performances,” said Malik, a former national-level high jumper.Training a para athlete requires a different approach from coaching able-bodied athletes, and Malik regularly consults experienced jump coach GV Gaonkar to fine-tune Shailesh’s programme.While Malik’s guidance has proved hugely beneficial on the field, their friendship has also played a key role in Shailesh’s resurgence, particularly after Paris Paralympics, where he narrowly missed a medal and finished fourth.“After beginning his training in Sonipat in 2019, Shailesh moved to SAI Gandhinagar under coach Vinod Chauhan. Unfortunately, Vinod sir passed away in a road accident in April 2023. It was a difficult phase for Shailesh and he wasn’t in the best frame of mind going into the Paris Paralympics,” Malik said.It was after Chauhan’s death that Shailesh reconnected with Malik. Together, they are now targeting success not only at the Asian Para Games but also at next year’s World Championships and, ultimately, the Paralympics in LA.But as Malik says, none of it would have been possible without the discipline and dedication of Shailesh, who chose sport even as his family hoped he would focus on studies and secure a stable job.“People had different opinions about me, so I wanted to do something different. My family stood by me throughout and today they are very proud,” said Shailesh.But as he prepares for another Asian Para Games campaign, he remains determined not to be weighed down by expectations. “I am the defending champion, but I am an athlete first. When you represent the country there is pressure, but I try to keep it to a minimum and perform freely,” he said.For Shailesh, though, the biggest motivation remains the journey itself. From being doubted because of his disability to becoming a champion who inspires others, he believes para-sports have given him a life he never imagined, and he intends to make the most of it.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.