Badr bin Ali Wins Asian Para Games Gold and Record in Nagoya

The Asian Para Games delivered another Saudi moment in Nagoya, Japan, as Badr bin Ali won gold in the men's shot put and set a new Asian record, following the same Saudi gold momentum at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. For gym-goers, it is also a clear reminder that explosive power is built with purpose, not guesswork.

In this article

1. Badr bin Ali's gold in Nagoya
2. A wider Saudi medal push at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
3. What throwers can teach everyday gym training
4. Why 400 metres training is a different challenge
5. The gym takeaway from Nagoya

Badr bin Ali's gold in Nagoya

According to aawsat.com, and corroborated by shahdnow.sa, Saudi Arabia's Badr bin Ali won gold in the men's shot put, F20 category, at the fifth Asian Para Games in Nagoya with a throw of 17.08 metres. Shahdnow.sa also reported that the throw set a new Asian record, matching the record wording used by aawsat.com.

That matters because throwing is one of the clearest tests of full-body power in sport. A shot put result is measured in metres, but the work behind it is built through balance, timing, strength and speed. The athlete has to create force from the ground, move it through the hips and core, and release it in a short, powerful window.

Aawsat.com also reported another Saudi podium result in Japan, with Noor Al-Sanaa taking silver in the 400 metres, T64 category, in 53.13 seconds. The same report said India's Sandeep won that race in 52.28 seconds, while Ajay Kumar took bronze in 53.61 seconds.

A wider Saudi medal push at Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Arabnews.com identified the competition as the fifth edition of the Asian Para Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026, held in Japan and running until 24 October 2026. The Saudi results in para-athletics were part of a broader week of success, not a one-off headline.

According to arabnews.com, Saudi golds in the same week included Ali Al-Nakhli in the 100 metres, T37, with 11.31 seconds, and Thamer Al-Zahrani in the 400 metres, T37, with 55.74 seconds. Arriyadiyah.com reported that Team Saudi's para-athletics squad led the Arab nations in the medal standings at the Games.

For Saudi sport, that is the bigger story. Medals from different track and field events show depth across speed, power and race endurance. They also give young athletes a wider set of role models, from sprinters to throwers.

What throwers can teach everyday gym training

The useful gym lesson from shot put is not that everyone should train like an elite thrower. It is that power is a skill. BarBend says medicine-ball throws build explosive power because force starts in the lower body and moves up through the hips and core to the upper body. JTS Strength adds that throwing power uses triple extension, the extension of the ankle, knee and hip, which also appears in jumping, sprinting and throwing.

For regular training, that points to a few simple principles:

• Start from the floor. Powerful movement usually begins with the legs, then travels through the hips and core.
• Move with speed, not strain. BarBend describes power work as moving a lighter load as fast as possible for a few quality repetitions, rather than lifting heavy for its own sake.
• Train rotation with control. Rotational medicine-ball throws can teach the core to transfer force between the hips and upper body.
• Keep reps crisp. JTS Strength links high-velocity throws with fast-twitch muscle fibres, so tired, slow reps miss the point.

Examples include chest passes, scoop throws and rotational throws with a medicine ball. They are exercises to learn and scale carefully, not a complete programme by themselves.

Why 400 metres training is a different challenge

Noor Al-Sanaa's silver points to a different kind of fitness. The 400 metres is fast, but it is not trained exactly like the 100 metres. It is also not an endurance race in the same way as longer track events.

BrianMac Sports Coach says the 400 metres draws on all three energy systems and is trained as speed endurance, a blend of sprint speed and endurance. Cartwright Fitness makes the same practical point in a different way, saying a 400 metres runner cannot be trained like a 100 metres sprinter or an 800 metres runner because the race is too long for instant energy alone and too short for the aerobic system to take over fully.

The exact energy split differs between sources, so the safer takeaway is the principle. A strong 400 metres athlete must hold a high percentage of maximum velocity while fatigue builds. For gym-goers, that explains why intervals, sprint mechanics, strength work and recovery all have a place when speed endurance is the goal.

The gym takeaway from Nagoya

The Nagoya results are elite performances, but the training ideas behind them are easy to respect at any level. Power is not only about heavy lifting. Speed is not only about short bursts. Both require technique, patience and the right intensity on the right day.

If this Saudi success has you thinking about your own training, bring that energy into the gym and keep it practical. Fill in the enquiry form.

Sources:
aawsat.com
shahdnow.sa
arabnews.com
arriyadiyah.com
barbend.com
jtsstrength.com
brianmac.co.uk
cartwrightfitness.co.uk

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.