Asian Para Games 2026: Ravi Budigina, Akira Banothu Bag Silver as India Hits 58 Medals
Ravi Budigina and Akira Banothu secure silver medals as India reaches 58 medals at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Japan.
India's campaign at the Asian Para Games 2026 continues to gain momentum as para-athletes Ravi Budigina and Akira Banothu delivered stellar performances on Wednesday to secure silver medals in swimming and athletics. These latest additions have pushed India's overall medal haul to a total of 58, consisting of 14 gold, 21 silver, and 23 bronze medals.
Ravi Budigina Shines in the Pool
In the para-swimming arena, Ravi Budigina showcased his consistency by claiming the silver medal in the Men's 100m Backstroke S13 final. Budigina touched the wall with a time of 1:10.10, marking his second silver medal of the Games.
While Budigina's performance was impressive, the gold went to Egor Bolotov of Uzbekistan. Bolotov dominated the event, clocking a blistering 58.43 seconds to not only win the gold but also establish a new Asian Para Games record, finishing 11.67 seconds ahead of the Indian swimmer.
Akira Banothu’s Impressive Debut
On the athletics track, Akira Banothu made a grand entrance in his Asian Para Games debut. Competing in the Men's 400m T35/T38 final, Banothu clocked a time of 51.25 seconds, finishing ahead of several other competitors.
However, because the event combined T35 and T38 athletes, the final standings were determined by a points-based classification system rather than raw time. Banothu, a T38 athlete, earned 948 points. This placed him second behind Iraq's Mohammed Khalaf, a T35 athlete. Despite finishing the race in 57.08 seconds—slower than Banothu—Khalaf earned 1,074 points under the system, securing the gold medal.
Double Delight in the 100m Sprint
The celebrations for the Indian contingent were further amplified in the Men's 100m T47 event, where India managed a brilliant one-two finish.
- Dilip Gavit Mahadu: Competing in the T46 category, Mahadu stormed to a gold medal with a powerful time of 10.69 seconds.
- Mohammed Basil: Representing the T47 category, Basil secured the silver medal with a time of 10.72 seconds. In doing so, Basil set a new Games Record for the event.
With a diverse array of medals coming from both the pool and the track, India continues to assert its presence as a powerhouse in para-sports at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.