Nagoya, October 22: Indian para athletes continued their impressive campaign at the 2026 Asian Para Games, producing a series of medal winning performances across athletics, swimming, badminton, archery and powerlifting. Their achievements on October 21 highlighted the growing depth of India’s para-sports programme, with experienced international competitors and emerging talents contributing to the country’s campaign in Japan.
The performances included gold medals in track and field, a historic podium sweep in the men’s shot put F46 category, and several podium finishes in other disciplines. India’s athletes also delivered important results in badminton and archery, demonstrating the country’s strength across a wide range of events.
Among the standout performers was Sachin Sarjerao Khilari, who won gold in the men’s shot put F46 event with a Games-record performance. Mohd Yasser and Praveen also secured silver and bronze respectively, completing an all-Indian podium in the discipline. The achievement underlined India’s growing competitiveness in para-athletics and the quality of its throwing-event contingent.
Praveen Kumar added another major result by winning the men’s high jump T44/T64 event with a Games-record clearance of 2.05 metres. Banti claimed silver after recording a personal best of 1.92 metres, giving India a one-two finish in the competition.
Sprinter Simran Sharma also emerged as one of the leading Indian performers, winning her second gold medal of the Games in the women’s 100-metre T12 event. Her time of 12.02 seconds established a new Games record, adding to her earlier success and strengthening India’s medal position.
Dilip Gavit contributed another gold medal by winning the men’s 100-metre T47 event, while Ayush Verma triumphed in the men’s shot put F53 category with a throw of 8.16 metres. Verma’s performance added to his medal collection at the competition after an earlier podium finish in the javelin.
Athletics contingent leads the campaign
Athletics remained a major source of medals for India as competitors excelled in sprinting, jumping and throwing events. The results reflected the importance of technical preparation, consistency and experience in competitions where small differences in execution can determine the final standings.
Karamjyoti Dalal secured bronze in the women’s discus throw F55 event with a personal-best effort of 21.60 metres. Haney also won bronze in the men’s discus throw F37 category, recording a personal best of 57.04 metres with his final attempt.
Shailesh Kumar finished third in the men’s long jump T42/T61/T63 event with a best effort of 5.57 metres. Sukhchain added another bronze in the men’s javelin F55 competition with a throw of 29.94 metres.
India also received a boost from its sprinting contingent, with athletes delivering competitive performances in multiple classifications. The variety of medal-winning results demonstrated the team’s ability to compete across different physical classifications and technical disciplines.
Para-athletics requires athletes and coaches to develop event-specific strategies, particularly in throwing and jumping competitions. The Indian contingent’s results showed the benefits of combining technical refinement with experience gained at international championships.
Badminton and archery provide further gains
India’s para-badminton players also made important progress during the competition. The men’s singles SL4 event featured three Indian players — defending champion Suhas LY, Naveen Sivakumar and Abhijeet Sakhuja who secured places in the semifinals, guaranteeing India three medals in the event.
The result was significant because it reflected the depth of India’s squad rather than the performance of an individual player alone. Having several athletes advance to the final stages also strengthened the country’s chances of securing further honours.
In the men’s doubles SH6 category, Krishna Nagar and Sivarajan Solaimalai won silver. Their performance added to India’s medal collection in a discipline that demands speed, anticipation and precise coordination between partners.
Archery also brought encouraging results. Sheetal Devi and Payal Nag reached the final of the women’s compound doubles event but finished with silver after losing to China’s pair. Their achievement continued India’s presence among the leading teams in para-archery.
The country’s competitors also secured medals in swimming, including a bronze for Himanshu Nandal in the men’s 400-metre freestyle S11 event. The result showed that India’s medal winning campaign extended beyond athletics into pool events, where technical execution and pacing are critical.
Powerlifter Kasthuri Rajamani won silver in the women’s 67-kilogram category, adding another podium finish for the Indian team.
Progress reflects wider development of para-sports
India’s performance at the Asian Para Games reflects the increasing visibility and competitiveness of para-sports in the country. Athletes are benefiting from greater opportunities to compete internationally, improved coaching structures and a growing focus on specialised training.
However, sustained success requires more than individual medals. Access to quality equipment, rehabilitation facilities, sports science, nutrition support and regular international competition remains important for athletes seeking to improve their performances.
The results also underline the need to support emerging competitors who can build on the achievements of established para-athletes. Young athletes entering international competition need consistent exposure to high-level events to develop confidence and adapt to the demands of major championships.
For India, the competition provides an opportunity to evaluate its strengths across classifications and identify disciplines where further investment could produce future success. Strong performances in athletics, badminton and archery offer encouraging signs, while medals in swimming and powerlifting demonstrate the value of a broad-based programme.
Focus shifts to remaining medal events
As the October 22 programme gets underway, Indian athletes are expected to continue competing in medal events and qualification rounds across several disciplines. The schedule includes opportunities in archery, athletics and badminton, along with further action in swimming and other sports.
The team will aim to convert its strong performances into additional podium finishes while maintaining consistency against competitors from across Asia. Medal prospects will depend on individual match-ups, event conditions and the ability of athletes to reproduce their best performances under pressure.
Beyond the medal tally, the campaign provides an important platform for Indian para-athletes to gain experience, improve international rankings and inspire future generations. Their performances in Nagoya have highlighted the determination and skill required to compete at the highest level.
With several events still to be contested, India will look to build on its successes and finish the competition with further achievements. The performances of Khilari, Simran Sharma, Praveen Kumar and their teammates have already established a strong foundation for the remainder of the campaign.