Historic Haul: Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey Clinch Bronze in Para Table Tennis
India shines at the 2026 Asian Para Games as Baby Sahana and Prachi Pandey secure historic bronze medals in para table tennis.
India's para-table tennis contingent delivered a powerhouse performance at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. In a day marked by grit and determination, Baby Sahana Ravi and Prachi Pandey secured bronze medals in the women's singles Class 9 and Class 6 events, respectively, contributing to a massive medal haul for the nation.
Baby Sahana Makes History
Baby Sahana Ravi's achievement is particularly significant as she has etched her name in the record books. By winning bronze in the women's singles Class 9 event, she has secured India's first-ever medal in the standing category of para table tennis at the Asian Para Games.
Her journey to the podium saw a challenging semi-final clash against China's Mao Jingdian. Despite a spirited effort, Sahana fell 0-3, with the sets ending 8-11, 2-11, and 4-11, ensuring her a well-deserved bronze medal.
Prachi Pandey and the Table Tennis Surge
Adding to the glory, Prachi Pandey claimed bronze in the women's singles Class 6 event. Pandey faced Iraq's Najlah Al-Dayyeni in the semi-finals, where she fought hard but ultimately lost in straight games with scores of 9-11, 2-11, and 8-11.
The success didn't stop there. India managed to secure a total of four medals in para table tennis on Tuesday alone. Other notable performances included:
- Bhavina Patel: The 2020 Paralympics silver medallist earned a bronze in the Women's Singles Class 4-5 after a 3-0 defeat (7-11, 5-11, 7-11) against China's Zhang Bian.
- Sonalben Patel: She secured bronze in the women's singles Class 3 event following a semi-final loss to South Korea's Yoon Jiyu in straight games (7-11, 5-11, 6-11).
A Golden Day for India
While table tennis was a highlight, Day 2 of the 2026 Asian Para Games was a comprehensive success for the Indian delegation, which clinched a total of eight medals.
Athletics Brilliance
The standout star of the day was para-athlete Deepthi Jeevanji, who stormed to a gold medal in the women's 400m T20 event. Jeevanji didn't just win; she set a new Games record with a blistering time of 56.36 seconds.
Other Medal Winners
India's strength in field events was also on full display:
- Pradeep Kumar: Won silver in the men's javelin throw F53/F54 event.
- Ayush Verma: Secured bronze in the men's javelin throw F53/F54 event.
- Praveen Sharma: Added another bronze to the tally in the men's shot put F11 event.