Para-athletics makes up the largest chunk in the delegation with 62 athletes, 46 of them men, and a support staff of 36 as India gear up for a strong finish at the Para Asian Games 2026, which starts in Aichi-Nagoya on October 18. India had won 108 medals in the previous edition of the Para Asian Games, including 27 gold, 32 silver and 49 bronze.
India is sending a 275-member contingent across 10 disciplines, which includes 166 athletes. The athletes list comprises of 111 male and 55 female sportspersons, with the rest comprising team officials, support staff and contingent members. Para-athletics is followed by para-badminton and para-swimming with 28 and 16 athletes respectively.
Former world no.1 and Tokyo Paralympic gold-medallist along with former Paralympic silver-winner Suhas Yathiraj headline the badminton squad of 28 (17 men and 11 women). The shuttlers have been provided a support staff of 11.
Armless compound archer , who won two gold medals at the previous Para Asiad, will once again be a top contender. The 19-year-old world champion will be joined by another prodigal talent in 18-year-old Payal Nag, who created quite a buzz by beating Sheetal in the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok earlier this year.
The Sports Ministry has axed under-fire para-shooting coach Jai Prakash Nautiyal from the Para Asian Games-bound Indian contingent amid a controversy-mired selection process which resulted in protests by shooters and cyclists. Long-serving national coach Jeevan L Rai has replaced Nautiyal in the contingent.
Nautiyal was facing allegations of not following the established criteria and demanding kickbacks in return for selection in the squad. Several shooters staged a protest outside Sports Authority of India (SAI) headquarters, demanding his removal and an investigation into the charges against him.
Despite a protest by omitted cyclists, the Ministry has avoided any last-minute additions and approved only Paralympian Arshad Shaik, who was the best performer, meeting the selection criteria comfortably. Six other cyclists had also been picked by the Cycling Federation of India and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) but they were omitted for not meeting the criteria.
Paralympic champions Bhagat and Bhavina will lead the Indian contingent as flag bearers at the Asian Para Games 2026 Opening Ceremony on October 18 in Nagoya, Japan. Bhagat, one of India’s most decorated para badminton players, has won six Asian Para Games medals between 2014 and 2023 two Gold and four bronze.
Bhavina, one of India’s leading para table tennis players, has won two Asian Para Games medals between 2018 and 2023 one Silver and one Bronze. Together, the duo has won eight Asian Para Games medals, and will now carry the Tricolour at the head of the Indian contingent.
