India Shines at Asian Para Games 2026 with Record Medal Count
A Historic Finish in Aichi-Nagoya
Team India wrapped up their remarkable journey at the Asian Para Games with a spectacular closing ceremony on Saturday. The nation concluded the 2026 Games with an impressive total of 114 medals, which included 30 gold, 35 silver, and 49 bronze. This achievement marks a significant improvement over the 2022 Games, where India secured 108 medals, comprising 27 gold, 32 silver, and 49 bronze. Initially, India had claimed 111 medals in the last edition, but three were later revoked due to doping violations involving Neeraj Yadav and Parveen.
Celebrating Leadership and Support for Para-Sports
During the closing ceremony, the Indian team proudly waved small tricolors at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium, led by Mona Agarwal, a double gold medalist in para-shooting, alongside co-flag-bearer Nishad Kumar. The performance of the Indian contingent was particularly commendable given that only 168 para-athletes participated in the 2026 Games, a reduction from the 309 athletes in Hangzhou.
Devendra Jhajharia, President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), expressed pride in surpassing the 100-medal milestone, emphasizing the athletes' dedication and the support for para-sports in India. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for providing unprecedented encouragement and recognition to para-athletes, inspiring the entire sports community to strive for excellence.
Dominance in Para-Badminton and Archery
India's para-badminton team showcased exceptional talent, with reigning Paralympic champion Nitesh Kumar defeating fellow Indian and world champion Pramod Bhagat 21-18, 21-16 in the men's singles SL3 final, resulting in a gold medal for Kumar. In women's doubles SL3-SU5, the duo of Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manasi Girishchandra Joshi triumphed over China's Qiuxia Yang and Zuxian Xiao, securing gold. Thulasimathi also earned silver in women's singles SU5, while Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan took silver in women's singles SH6 after a match against China's Fengmei Li.
In archery, Harvinder Singh and newcomer Vijay Sundi clinched gold in men's recurve doubles, while Pooja Jatyan and Bhawna Choudhary achieved silver in women's recurve doubles, marking India's first medal in this category at the Asian Para Games.
Outstanding Achievements in Track and Field
India's para-athletes excelled in track and field events, with Haney winning gold in men's javelin throw F37/38, achieving a world record with a throw of 60.49 meters. Debutant Sandeep also secured gold in men's 400m T64, clocking 52.28 seconds and setting a world record in the T44 category. Ajay Kumar added a bronze in the same event with a time of 53.61 seconds. India dominated the men's javelin throw F42-F44/F61-F64 final, with Sumit winning gold in the T64 category, Mahendra Gurjar taking silver, and Sandip Sanjay Sargar earning bronze.
In men's club throw F51, Pranav Soorma achieved gold with a Games-record throw of 32.87 meters, while Dharambir secured bronze. Navdeep Singh and Rakeshbhai Bhatt also contributed bronze medals in their respective events.
Excellence in Shooting, Table Tennis, and Swimming
In para-shooting, Mona Agarwal made history by winning gold in women's 50m rifle 3 positions SH1, scoring 357.5 and setting both world and Asian Para Games records. She became the first Indian para-shooter to medal in this event at the Asian Para Games.
The para-table tennis team added a bronze through Jehan Dorab Madan and Shubham Wadhwa in men's doubles Class MD4. At 50, Madan became the oldest member of the Indian contingent to win a medal at the 2026 Games. In para-swimming, Himanshu Nandal secured bronze in men's 100m freestyle S11, bringing his total medal count to three bronze medals. Overall, India's campaign was marked by numerous record-breaking performances across various sports, showcasing the depth of talent within the contingent.