# Two queer athletes from Bengaluru win eight medals at Gay Games in Spain 2026-08-07T20:34:01+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Two queer athletes from Bengaluru returned from Valencia, Spain, with eight medals from the International Gay Games. Gowthami Kandhasami (26) won four gold medals in high jump, 5km run, 10km indoor run, and marathon in the women's 25-29 category, plus two silvers. Sumit Pawar (35) won gold in javelin throw. Both are among only three resident Indians who participated. They received scholarships from the organisers and their running club, Bengaluru Frontrunners. Gowthami said the club, which she joined during the lockdown, helped her reconnect with her body positively. Sumit noted that sports in India often exclude those outside the male-female binary. At the opening ceremony, he said, he felt like an athlete representing India, not just a queer one. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Bengaluru athletes, Gay Games, international medals, LGBTQIA+ sports, queer representation Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/two-queer-athletes-from-bengaluru-win-eight-medals-at-gay-games-in-spain/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/two-queer-athletes-from-bengaluru-win-eight-medals-at-gay-games-in-spain/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.