India Shines at Asian Para Games with 18 Medals, Including 5 Golds
India's Impressive Medal Haul
India's track and field team delivered an outstanding performance, securing a total of 18 medals, which includes five golds, propelling the nation to fifth place in the overall rankings. Notable achievements came from sprinter Simran, high-jumper Praveen Kumar, and shot-putter Sachin Khilari, who all set new Games records in their respective events.
In addition to Simran (women’s 100m T12), Praveen (men’s high jump T44/64), and Sachin (men’s shot put F46), gold medals were also earned by Dilip Gavit (men’s 100m T47) and Ayush Verma (men’s shot put F53).
India's success extended beyond athletics, with medals also being won in para-archery, para-swimming, and powerlifting, showcasing a strong overall performance during the eight-day event, which concludes on Saturday.
However, the athletics team stood out, contributing 13 of the 14 gold medals India has achieved thus far at the Games.
Overall, India has amassed 21 silver medals (13 from athletics) and 27 bronze medals (16 from athletics), bringing the total medal count to 62.
Star Performers Shine
Simran emerged as a standout athlete, clinching gold in the 100m event for visually impaired runners, adding to her earlier victory in the 200m. Both achievements were marked by setting new Games records within a span of just 24 hours, despite her struggles with dietary restrictions as a strictly vegetarian athlete.
Sheetal Devi, an armless compound archer, also showcased her talent, winning a silver medal in the women’s doubles alongside Payal Nag after a close final against China.
Indian para-athletes Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag compete in the women’s compound doubles event at the Asian Para Games 2026, in Nagoya, Japan. Image credit/PTI
In swimming, Ravi Kartik Budigina, who is visually impaired, secured his second silver medal in the men’s 100m backstroke in the S13 category, while fellow swimmer Himanshu Nandal earned bronze in the men’s breaststroke SB13 classification.
Badminton and Powerlifting Success
India is set to secure three medals in the men’s singles SL4 badminton category, with defending champion Suhas LY, Naveen Sivakumar, and Abhijeet Sakhuja all advancing to the semifinals.
In the men’s doubles, Krishna Nagar and Sivarajan Solaimalai claimed silver in the SH6 category after finishing second in a group stage that featured only four teams.
Kasthuri Rajamani, a powerlifter affected by polio, achieved a personal milestone by winning a silver medal in the women’s 67kg category, marking a significant achievement in her career.
Athletics Dominance Continues
The athletics team is aiming for medals in 60 of the 62 events they are participating in, and with two full days of competition remaining, this goal appears attainable as they have already secured 41 medals.
Among the standout athletes, Preeti Pal, a double bronze-medalist from the 2024 Paralympics, won silver in the women’s 100m T35 event, adding to her earlier silver in the 200m T35.
Simran's victory in the 100m event came with a record time of 12.02 seconds, finishing ahead of Iran’s Hajar Safarzadeh, who clocked 12.30 seconds.
Ayush Verma initiated the day with a gold in the men’s shot put F53, followed by Praveen Kumar and Sachin Khilari, who also secured golds in their events.
India also collected four silver medals during the morning session, with notable performances from Banti, Bhagyashri Jadhav, Mohd Yasser, and Manjeet.
Combined Events and Classifications
Earlier, Dilip Gavit won gold in the men’s 100m T46/47 combined event, while Mohammed Morssinganakath Basil took silver. Gavit, a T46 athlete, finished first with a time of 10.69 seconds, while Basil, a T47 athlete, set a Games record with a time of 10.72 seconds.
Combined events allow athletes from different classifications to compete together, ensuring sufficient participation. The T46 and T47 categories cater to athletes with upper limb impairments, differing mainly in the severity and location of the impairment.