Soman Rana Wins Gold in Para Shot Put at Commonwealth Games

Soman Rana, a para-athlete and land mine blast survivor, made a remarkable comeback by winning gold in the men's F57 shot put at the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. This victory marks India's first gold in this category.

Rana, who suffered a severe injury from a mine blast in 2006, achieved a throw of 13.40 meters, narrowly defeating his training partner Shubham Juyal, who secured silver with a throw of 13.28 meters. Cameroon’s Cedric Azamdzi took home the bronze with a throw of 12.57 meters.

Before his injury, Rana was a national-level boxer and had to adapt to a new sporting discipline after losing his leg. His coach highlighted Rana's determination and resilience, especially considering his age and ongoing health challenges. Rana's journey in para sports began in 2017, and he has since achieved significant milestones, including a silver medal at the 2023 Asian Para Games and a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Paralympics. He is currently ranked World No. 2 and is preparing for the upcoming Para Asian Games in Japan.