Asian Para Games: Nitesh Kumar and Archery Duo Strike Gold
Nitesh Kumar, Naveen Sivakumar, and the duo of Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi clinch gold medals for India at the 2026 Asian Para Games.
India continued its stellar run at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, securing a series of gold medals across badminton and para archery. In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Indian athletes dominated several events on Friday, pushing the nation's total medal tally to 98.
All-Indian Clash in Badminton SL3 Final
The men's singles SL3 badminton final witnessed a high-voltage encounter as two Indian powerhouses, Nitesh Kumar and Pramod Bhagat, faced off for the top spot. Nitesh emerged victorious, defeating the former Paralympic champion in straight games with a score of 21-18, 21-16.
While Nitesh claimed the gold, Pramod Bhagat secured the silver, ensuring a proud one-two finish for India in the SL3 category.
More Gold for India: Naveen Sivakumar and Archery Duo
The gold medal rush didn't stop there. In the men's singles SL4 badminton event, Naveen Sivakumar delivered a commanding performance to defeat Indonesia's Fredy Setiawan. Sivakumar wrapped up the match in just 36 minutes, winning 21-9, 21-17.
Meanwhile, in para archery, the duo of Harvinder Singh and Vijay Sundi showcased nerves of steel to clinch gold in the men's recurve doubles. Facing a tough Chinese side, the Indian pair managed a 5-1 victory. The final was a nail-biter; after the first set ended in a 35-35 tie, the Indians edged out their opponents in the subsequent sets, 37-36 and 38-36, to seal the title.
Silver Success in Athletics and Badminton
India also added several silver medals to its haul. In para athletics, Nimisha Chakkungaparambil secured silver in the women's long jump T47 event. Nimisha achieved a jump of 5.37 metres on her third attempt, while Sri Lanka's Dhananjana took gold with a Games-record jump of 5.52 metres.
Other silver medalists included:
- Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan: Finished second in the women's singles SH6 badminton final after losing 12-21, 13-21 to China's Li Fengmei.
- Parmod: Retained his silver medal from the 2022 Hangzhou Para Games in the men's 1500m T46 event, clocking a time of 4:09.65.
Other Notable Performances
In the men's discus throw F11 event, Praveen Sharma put up a strong fight with a best effort of 30.64 metres, finishing fourth in a competition where Iran swept all three podium spots.
With these latest achievements, India's overall medal count stands at 98, consisting of 24 gold, 32 silver, and 42 bronze, maintaining the country's position at fourth in the overall standings.