Solairaj Dharmaraj

Solairaj Dharmaraj

Personal information
Born	1994 (age 30–31) Tamil Nadu, India
Sport
Sport	Paralympic athletics
Medal record Men's para-athletics Representing   India Asian Para Games 2022 Hangzhou Long jump T64

Solairaj Dharmaraj (born 22 May 1994) ^[1] is an Indian para athlete from Tamil Nadu.

Background

Dharmaraj is a subedar in the Indian Army and after he lost a leg he took to sports in 2018 and became a paralympian. ^[2]

Career

He won gold medal in the men's long jump T64 event at the 2022 Asian Para Games at Hangzhou, China on 27 October 2023. ^{[3] [4]} He jumped to a distance of 6.80m defeating Sri Lankan Maththaka Gamage (6.68m) to create a new games record. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]} He failed his first three jumps and then logged 6.36m in his fourth. After another failed attempt, he leaped to a gold-winning 6.80m in his sixth and final jump. ^[1] He beat the Asian Record held by compatriot, Ramudri Someswara Rao, who set a distance of 6.42 at Dubai in March 2022. Rao, also competed here but could only jump to 6.18m for a bronze. ^[1]

He was also congratulated by the prime minister, Narendra Modi for winning a gold medal. ^[9]

In May 2024, he took part in the World Para Athletic Championship in Kobe, Japan, which was the final qualifying tournament for the Paris Paralympics. ^[10]

In March 2025, representing Tamil Nadu, his home state, Dharmaraj won the gold medal in the combined men's long jump T44/T64 category at the Khelo India para games 2025, held at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi. ^[11]

Other activity

In November 2024, Dharmaraj attended a show where advanced military equipment and weaponry were displayed for school students, NCC cadets and civil-military dignitaries as part of the Veer Gatha 2024, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Ministry of Education (MoE) at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata. ^[2]

References

1. https://asianparalympic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/HAPGOC_2024_Official_report_of_the_Hangzhou_Asian_Para_Games_Vol_3_Official_Result.pdf Page 73
2. "Students interact with Army veterans at Veer Gatha 2024". The Times of India. 11 November 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 22 June 2025.
3. "India create history, claim 100 medals at Asian Para Games in record-breaking campaign". Hindustan Times. 28 October 2023.
4. "Asian Para Games 2023: Solairaj Dharmaraj wins gold, creates new Area Record in men's long jump T64". Khel Now. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
5. "Asian Para Games: Dharmaraj Solairaj Secures Gold In Men's Long Jump-T64 Event | Athletics News". NDTVSports.com. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
6. Iyer, Sunita. "Asian Para Games 2023: Solairaj Dharmaraj bags 25th gold medal for India after win in long jump T64 category". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
7. "India at Asian Para Games: Sheetal Devi, Solairaj Dharmaraj bag gold as medal tally touches 99". Scroll.in. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
8. "Hangzhou Asian Para Games, Day 5: Sheetal wins sensational individual title; 4 golds in Para badminton as India finish day on 99 medals". The Indian Express. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
9. "PM congratulates Dharmaraj Solairaj for winning gold in men's long jump-T64 at Asian Para Games". 27 October 2023.
10. "Chance for TN quartet to book Paralympics berths". The Times of India. 14 May 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
11. "Khelo India Para Games 2025: Debutants Alphia James, Mandeep steal badminton spotlight as Paralympians dominate - Saachi Baat". 23 March 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.