Tajinderpal Singh Toor Wins Silver in Men’s Shot Put at Asian Games
Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s attempt to win a third consecutive gold medal in shot put at the Asian Games ended on Saturday, but he still came away with a silver medal. In the men’s shot put final, Toor achieved a best throw of 20.64 meters. Irán’s Mohammadreza Tayebise clinched the gold with a record-breaking throw of 20.81 meters, while Mohammed Tolu from Saudi Arabia secured the bronze with a throw of 20.48 meters.
Tayebise’s winning throw not only earned him first place but also set a new Games record, surpassing Toor’s previous record of 20.75 meters, which he set during his gold medal win at the Jakarta Games in 2018.
The competition started with Toor facing tough odds. After Tayebise’s impressive throw, Toor’s initial attempt of 20.26 meters left him in third place. However, he responded strongly when it mattered the most. In his fifth throw, Toor achieved a distance of 20.64 meters, marking his best performance of the day and securing him a silver medal. Although he fell short of Tayebise’s record by just 17 centimeters, Toor managed to move ahead of Tolu for second place.
This silver medal marks the end of Toor’s two-Gold streak at the Asian Games, but he has maintained his position on the podium for three consecutive editions. He won his first gold in Jakarta and defended his title in Hangzhou in 2023 with a throw of 20.36 meters.
Toor entered the competition in Nagoya with hopes of becoming the first Indian track and field athlete to achieve three straight individual Asian Games gold medals. While that opportunity slipped away with Tayebise’s outstanding performance, Toor still earned the distinction of being a three-time Asian Games medalist.
Toor’s Journey from Punjab to Shot Put Stardom
Toor’s rise to prominence in shot put began in his hometown of Khosa Pando in Punjab’s Moga district. Coming from a farming family, he initially played cricket before switching to shot put, encouraged by his father. This change set him on a successful path.
He has earned gold medals in the Asian Championships both in 2019 and 2023 and at the Asian Indoor Championships in 2024. In addition, he secured a silver medal at the upcoming Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in 2026. His most remarkable throw came in 2023 when he set a new Indian national record with a distance of 21.77 meters, which was also the Asian record at that time.
A two-time Olympian, Toor has represented India at the Tokyo 2020 and anticipated Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Since November 2018, he has also benefitted from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which supports his participation in international events and training overseas.
Toor’s Asian Games record now stands at two gold medals and one silver. It’s the first time since 2018 that he didn’t finish in first place, but he leaves the competition with a medal in hand.
