Para powerlifter Ashok Malik wins silver at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games with 192 kg lift

Indian para powerlifter Ashok Kumar Malik has shown that a goal that seems impossible can be reached through persistence, hard work and self-belief. He won silver at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games 2026, a significant addition to India's medal tally.

In the event, Ashok lifted 192 kg in his second attempt. He had earlier lifted 187 kg successfully in his first attempt. In his final attempt he tried to lift 201 kg but did not succeed. The strong showing in the first two attempts still secured him the silver medal.

Ashok Malik is a 17-time national champion. He has performed well at both national and international levels before. In 2022 he won gold at the Asia Oceania Championships. In the same year he won bronze at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. He has also won bronze at the 2026 Asian Championships.

Ashok has also made his mark in world-level competitions. In 2023 he won silver at the Para Powerlifting World Cup held in Egypt. In 2024 he won gold at the World Cup in Pattaya, and he took bronze at the event in Tbilisi.

Ashok is from Mirzapur Kheri village in Gohana tehsil of Haryana's Sonipat district. He contracted polio at the age of five, but did not give up his dreams in the face of this physical challenge. While studying in college in Delhi, he drew inspiration for sport from the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and he took up powerlifting in 2011.

Winning gold for India at the Asia Oceania Championships in 2022 was a key milestone in his career. Through steady practice, hard work and perseverance, he built a distinct identity at the international level.

Ashok's life has had many difficult moments. His father died in 2020. His mother then took on the responsibility for Ashok and his brother. Family and friends stood by him through this hard period.

His maternal aunt played a major role in arranging the equipment needed for success in the sport. Coach J. P. Singh guided him, while his friend Vikram Singh Mor helped meet his training and diet needs. With everyone's support, Ashok's sporting journey grew stronger, and the Asian Para Games silver medal now adds one more honour to his achievements.