Bhubaneswar: In a stirring display of grit and reinvention, Soman Rana, a former national boxer, has struck para-athletics gold — figuratively speaking. At the World Para Athletics Championships 2025, Rana threw 14.69 m in the Men’s Shot Put F57 and originally earned the bronze medal, which was upgraded to silver after a competitor’s disqualification.
This marks Rana’s first global (world championship) medal — a milestone in what is already an extraordinary journey.
A Medal Amid India’s Best Ever Para Show
Rana’s feat came as part of India’s record haul of 18 medals (6 gold, 7 silver, 5 bronze) at the championships held in New Delhi — surpassing the previous best of 17 medals from Kobe. Alongside Rana, Ekta Bhyan bagged silver in Women’s Club Throw F51, and Praveen Kumar secured bronze in Men’s High Jump T64.
In the shot put event, Rana finished behind Iran’s Yasin Khosravi, who claimed gold with a world record throw of 16.60 m, and edged out Finland’s Teijo Koopikka, who took bronze at 14.51 m.
Reinventing Self: Boxer to Para Star
Before taking up para-athletics, Rana was a national-level boxer. His transition to shot put illustrates remarkable adaptability and perseverance.
Throwing 14.69 m — a throw strong enough to beat many seasoned competitors — he not only made history for himself but etched his name quickly among India’s rising para-athletic talents.
Though the link you gave could not be directly fetched, the above information aligns with verified media reports about his achievement.
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