After finishing fifth in the 2023 Para Asian Games in Hangzhou, India will be aiming to better that show in 2026 edition in Aichi-Nagoya, which starts on October 18. India have won a total of 111 medals – 29 gold, 31 silver and 51 bronze. In the able-bodied competition, India failed to break the 100-medal mark, falling short by 15 medals in Achi-Nagoya.
The sports ministry has so far sanctioned 128 athletes — 90 men and 38 women — across eight disciplines at the Para 2026, with approvals for para badminton, para table tennis, boccia and team officials to follow separately. Paralympic gold medallist and Paralympic silver medallist Bhavina Patel have been named India’s flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony to be held on October 18.
However, the 2026 Asian Para Games send-off ceremony was marred by protests by para-shooters and para-cyclists in New Delhi, with the athletes demanding fairness in selection. In the presence of Sports Minister , para shooters and para cyclists protested with placards and banners outside the hotel lobby.
Before the Games starts, lets take a look at five Indian medal hopefuls at Aichi-Nagoya in the Para .
Popularly known as the armless archer, Sheetal Devi gained attention at the international level with a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games, followed by another yellow metal at the Paris Paralympics in 2024. Not to forget, Sheetal is the world’s first and only active female armless archer, who uses her legs and feet to shoot with a custom-engineered bow.
With a gold medal in the women’s compound event at the World Archery Para Series 2026 Stage 3 in Ahmedabad, Sheetal is once again a contender for gold in both individual and team compound events.
Sumit Antil is a sureshot gold medal hopeful for India in Aichi-Nagoya unless anything drastic happens. The back-to-back gold medalist in the Paralympics and world record holder has been dominant in the F64 category in men’s javelin and will lead India’s track and field contingent at the Para Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Pramod Bhagat will lead the Indian badminton contingent in the Para Asian Games 2026. He has won two gold and four bronze medals at the Para over the years and remains the cornerstone of India’s para badminton team.
Bhavina Patel has been a trailblazer in women’s para sports. Having gained attention at the Tokyo Olympics with a silver medal, Bhavina will lead the Indian badminton contingent at the Para Asian Games in Japan. Notably, Bhavina’s previous medals at 2023 Asian Para Games were a silver and bronze. She is yet to win a gold at the continental showpiece.
Her gold came in the 2022 Para Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Another track and field hopeful for India in the Para Asian Games is high jumper Nishad Kumar. He has been a consistent performer at the international level – a silver each at 2020 and 2024 editions of Paralympic Games. He has also won a gold medal at the Para Asian Games in 2023, Nishad is once again a top favorite to reach the podium.
